Eleven-year-old Monica Shah is a brainy schoolgirl whose science fair project about growing raspberries becomes a touching emotional crusade. After her dad leaves and her mother falls into a funk, Monica decides it's her job to rescue the family.
Acting
Lily Javaherpour carries the whole film with zero precociousness.
Direction
Pendharkar's patient, observational style lets silences land hard.
Writing
Monica's lab notebook voiceover is the film's secret weapon.
Director
Leena Pendharkar
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Bella Thorne's first film role—she plays the rich mean girl, naturally—two years before Disney Channel made her a star.
Director Leena Pendharkar specifically wanted to explore how South Asian families often communicate love through action rather than words, which explains why Monica turns to science instead of conversation.
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