Video Americain

Review

Director Zwigoff brings his ultra-hip Crumb sensibility to his existential, angst-ridden yet curiously refreshing Ghost World, which he cowrote with Daniel Clowes, the author of the comic book upon which this is based. Birch is despondently perfect as Enid, who responds to the living death of her suburban hell with the sneering disdain that peaks in the senior year of high school. With best friend Rebecca, she enters the unique limbo of that first summer after high school graduation, wandering through tract housing, strip malls and faux ‘50s diners in utter boredom, making plans to get an apartment but unable to hold a job, hateful to her milquetoast father’s girlfriend, finding all boys repugnant and all aspects of her life subject to derision. A mean-spirited prank brings her in contact with Seymour (Buscemi), Crumb redux, who becomes her alternative father figure, fellow malcontent, instructor in turn-of-the-century jazz and blues, and covert object d’amore. Enid becomes less caricature and more character as the film progresses and she finds her way through petty frustrations, the weirdness of others and her own personal foibles. A most satisfying independent offering.