Speak (2004)

I started watching this months ago and stopped, I think because it was too soon after I’d read the book and I was getting hung up on “THAT's not how she looked” and “it didn’t happen that way.” Now that the book has faded, though, I thought this movie stood on its own very well.

A high school freshman goes from lively, happy, and good grades to a depressed, withdrawn loner struggling through classes. Of course there’s a reason, but she simply cannot speak about it -- and, eventually, reduces all speech to a minimum.  Powerful and important, especially for junior-high and high school viewing.

B+