This stark and spare
look at the world of the mentally disturbed was one of the beacons of the new
American independent film movement. Keir Dullea and Janet Margolin star as two
adolescents who make contact with each other in a home for disturbed
youngsters. Dullea is David Clemens, who is placed in the home by his mother
because of his constant fear of being touched. Margolin is Lisa, a 15-year-old
schizophrenic who speaks only in rhyme, when she speaks at all. David rejects
the help of psychiatrist Alan Swinford (Howard Da Silva) but makes an emotional
connection with Lisa. Because of his contact with Lisa, David eventually opens
up to Swinford and his mother. But his mother is dissatisfied with his progress
and takes him back home. Home life, however, consists of his mother 's
domineering ways and parental quarrels, so David runs away and returns to the
home for disturbed youngsters. But then an argument with Lisa leads to a
climactic confrontation.
