Yesterday was the world premiere of “Arcadia Lost” in the Little Rock Film Festival. Here’s the first review:

Haley Bennett’s performance is one of the highlights of Arcadia Lost, the world premiere of which will be at 8 p.m. Friday at Riverdale Cinemas.
There was never a doubt about how Arcadia Lost would look. Few in the film industry have a reputation of excellence like Phedon Papamichael, the film’s director and cinematographer.
Papamichael picked his native Greece as the canvas on which to paint this latest masterpiece. The narrative is potent, layered with angst, discovery, tragedy and self-realization.
American teenagers Charlotte (Haley Bennett) and Sye (Carter Jenkins) are thrust together when their parents marry in Greece. After surviving a car accident, the step-siblings embark on a journey across the Greek countryside, following a drifter, Benerji (Nick Nolte), who seems at the same time wise and a little unstable.
As Charlotte discovers the power of her own sexuality, Sye becomes a disciple of Benerji’s teaching while also feeling compelled to protect Charlotte (sometimes from herself).
The kids and the camera are the stars of this film. Bennett and Jenkins both show great poise and range, and it wouldn’t be surprising if this performance launched both of their careers to greater heights.
As he did in previous works Sideways and Phenomenon, Papamichael uses the naturally beautiful backdrop as a way to help tell the story, lingering long on shots of Greece’s jagged coastline, rocky terrain and the sapphire-colored Aegean Sea.

Picturesque and cerebral, the world premiere of this film should be one of the biggest highlights of this year’s festival. The film will premiere at 8 p.m. Friday, June 4, at Riverdale Cinemas. Papamichael, screenwriter David Ariniello and producer Kelly Thomas will be on hand at the premiere.

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