PETTING ZOO

Getting pregnant: a magical moment for some, a disaster for others. For seventeen-year-old Layla, a brilliant and serious student, it’s definitely a wrench in her plans. Her conservative Texas family won’t hear of abortion, so Layla decides to keep the baby, drops her college scholarship and moves into her grandmother’s trailer. Between church and work she manages to meet a boy, Aaron, who’s different from the bad boys she used to spend time with. Just when things seem to be going well, she miscarries, but has to wait three days before the hospital can induce labour to remove the fetus. With a vision of Texas much different from what we’re accustomed to, young director Micah Magee, who grew up in the state and went through an ordeal that inspired this story, has made a sincere and touching film. Presented at Berlin and South by Southwest, Petting Zoo reveals the tremendous raw talent of newcomer Devon Keller, filmed with great tenderness and empathy