Summer Under ‘My Louisiana Sky’

Showtime’s “My Louisiana Sky,” an appealing coming-of-age story set during a summer of change and growth for a young girl of the ‘50s, offers simple pleasures about salt-of-the-earth people.

Nicely directed by actor Adam Arkin, this pleasing family film generates minimal conflict among the characters yet captures its time and place with an understated approach that is not condescending or judgmental.

The very likable heroine is Tiger Ann Parker, a smart, spirited and bright-eyed 12-year-old girl charmingly played by newcomer Kelsey Keel. Tiger’s mother, Corinna (Amelia Campbell), has the intelligence of a 6-year-old because of a childhood accident; her responsible father, Lonnie (Chris Owens), has been called retarded, although he manages to maintain a job at a nearby nursery. Ably holding the Parkers together on their small farm is Tiger’s wise, watchful grandmother (Shirley Knight).

Tiger’s summer changes for the better with the unexpected arrival of her aunt (Juliette Lewis), a generous sophisticate from the “big city” of Baton Rouge.

Based on the book by Kimberly Willis Holt, the uncomplicated teleplay by Anna Sandor taps into familiar terrain (i.e., a first kiss and other rites of passage) yet wins us over by resisting maudlin melodrama.

None of the small-scale scenarios will blow you away (including a hurricane that strikes in the waning moments), but to paraphrase one character, this is one “right fine” piece of work.

* “My Louisiana Sky” can be seen Sunday at 8 p.m. on Showtime. The network has rated it TV-PG (may be unsuitable for young children).