I read several reviews before going ahead with this one and I was willing to take the boring with whatever good I could find in it. The good reviews I read were a bit vague and only gave me the idea that some people had not found it to be as bad as others. I read one spoiler that sparked my interest so I watched it. And I was oh so happy that I did- this film is delightful. Those who find it boring or didn't find meaning in the main character going back and forth between private and public schools missed the messages the film had to offer. This is definitely a coming of age film and, like many, about a young girl trying to find her place and identity in life. It is done delightfully. It is not fast-paced but it is not boring and you really have to be up for a coming of age film. I loved it and found its nuances to be wonderfully done. The actors are all splendid and the characters are quite good.

This story of a young teen outsider turns a familiar theme on its ear. Winningly smart and smart-assed, the film, written and directed by Cathy Randall uses intelligent and witty choreographed imagery (camera work so expert), as much as clever dialogue, to tell the story of Esther Blueburger (Danielle Catanzariti), the 13-year-old adorable awkward Jewish misfit at a posh private girls school. Opening with a Busby Berkeley type Hollywood extravaganza on the school lawn, where multiple cliques of 4 , first perform extreme rhythmic gymnastics, and then seated in unison, in perfect synchrony, perform a variety of mundane tasks, while Esther can only watch furtively from an attic window. Esther befriends a precious yellow duckling she names Normal, and he's her constant shadow. But even Normal will be lost to her as he appears shockingly deceased and a candidate for dissection in her science lab. She's certain it's he, feathers or not. At last a friend emerges, Sunni ( Keisha Castle- Hughes), and Esther. with no authorization, transfers to her public school under the guise of a cultural exchange student in an experimental program. There are so many excellent comic, as well as serious and touching vignettes, which I won't spoil. This really is a story about bullying and rejection, but it's told in a wonderfully satirical and human way, and not an instructional lesson-teaching style. The acting is first rate, as are all the filmmaking disciplines. A strong recommend.

Excellent movie for all ages, races and genders. For the ugly duckling within us all!

Overall it was just okay. Little girl was not accepted in private school so she secretly went to a public school and her mother finds out in the end. Her mother always blames the little girl for not being popular. The mother doesn't understand her daughter because she doesn't give her the time of day to even know her daughter.

This film was so uniquely special in the depiction of troubles the young heroin faces. There are things she does early into the film which make no sense until later in the film. It was a wonderful film to show why we should never judge another person. The film ended on a triumphant note which I also enjoyed.

A little-known Australian movie that deserves greater recognition.

mocks the jewish synagogue liturgy & holy scriptures

Cute!