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It's interesting to note how few movies are made on the subject of pregnancy, given how frequently and variously the situation actually occurs in the human experience. Lisa Krueger's debut film, Manny & Lo, thankfully addresses the issue with a quirky, gentle wit. Tough as nails Laurel (called Lo) is played by Aleksa Palladino with the appropriate snarl and detachment of a 16-year-old who happens to be a pregnant runaway. Her impulsiveness effectively fuels the survival elements and kidnapping plot; her desperation and ineptitude makes the silly premise believable and fun. Providing the narrative voice, Scarlett Johansson gives the 11-year-old Amanda (called Manny) a calm intelligence, bringing a heart and soul to the situation. Their bickering sisterly interplay is tempered when they meet Mary Kay Place, ideally cast as Elaine, a matronly saleswoman and knower of all things prenatal. The three women form a bizarre family structure as the disorganized young criminals lose their direction and enviably grow closer to their hyper-feminine captive, leading up to a genuinely warm conclusion. John Lurie's jazz and rock-influenced musical score also adds to the creative and playful atmosphere. Marking the breakthrough of its two lead actresses, Manny & Lo was nominated for several Independent Spirit Awards in 1996.