
Saraisayounggirlraisedinafamilyofgoatfarmers.herparentshomeschooltheirtwelvechildren,rigorouslyfollowingthepreceptsoftheBible.Likehersisters,Saraistaughttobeadevoutwoman,subservienttomenwhilekeepingheremotionalandphysicalpurityintactuntilmarriage.<br/> Madewithnon-actorsintheirownsurroundings,thefilmavoidscommentingonreligiousmentoringorontheessenceofcommunitylifeinordertocapturetheintimacyofasocietywherehome-schoolingisjustasnaturalastarget-shootinginlatepregnancy.Thedecisionnottoemphasizeanyparticularcharacteristicallowedthedirectortocreateanexceptionallyvividportraitinanasceticyetsuggestivefilmthatadmirablyavoidsthetraditionaltoolsofdramatizationusuallyappliedtostoriesaboutadolescentgirlsortheirenvironment.ThedirectorneverthelesssucceedsinconstructingacomprehensiveandcompellingportraitofuniqueindividualswhileitcontinuestofocusonSara’squestfornewpathsinlife.
