'DELIRIOUS' GETS LOST IN ITS OWN TANGLED DRAMA.

Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic

``Lost and Delirious'' certainly fulfills its title's promise. It's a hothouse examination of mad passion at a girls boarding school - and unlike the recent, dishonest ``crazy/beautiful,'' at least one of the participants here actually does go thoroughly, certifiably cuckoo.

Your appreciation of the film will be governed by how much of that you're willing to accept. There's nothing dishonest or dumb about this movie, directed in English by French Canadian Lea Pool from her countrywoman Susan Swan's novel ``The Wives of Bath.'' It's just that the movie pushes one's tolerance for overwrought adolescent romanticism to the limit ... and, for some of us, well past it.

On the other hand, there's no shame in being profoundly moved by the movie. Its three young actresses give it their all, and its stern refusal to simplistically sum up knotty moral and emotional dilemmas is a mark of honor amid the current flood of idiotic (or, in ``crazy/beautiful's'' PG-13 rated case, cowardly) teen movies.

And, um, guys should even like it, if you know what I mean.

Our wide-eyed narrator is Mary ``Mouse'' Bradford (Mischa Barton). As her nickname indicates, she's a tremulous little thing, made even more so by her mother's death and new stepmom's obvious desire to get her out of the house. Packed off to Quebec's Gothic Perkins Girl's College, Mouse is instantly enchanted by her two outgoing, slightly older roommates: the beautiful and bubbly Tory (Jessica Pare) and the smart, rebellious Paulie (``Coyote Ugly's'' Piper Perabo).

Soon, though, the ultra-innocent Mouse, whom Paulie encouragingly redubs ``Mary Brave,'' discovers that her two new friends are more than just friends. Busted in bed together, they swear the younger girl to secrecy. Not surprisingly, the implied trust only deepens Mary's affection for the both of them.

And no, not in that way. Neither girl is after Mary sexually, as subsequent events make abundantly clear. When word does get out to the campus-at-large that Paulie and Tory may be having a fling, Tory freaks and declares herself radically heterosexual. Convinced that their love transcends orientation and more than a bit addled by some fiery Shakespeare lines she's picked up in English class, Paulie vows to win her lady back no matter how public or humiliating an effort it takes.

Throughout this escalating war of nerve and nerves, Mary tries to mediate as best she knows how. It is, of course, a losing effort from the start.

Unfortunately shackled with too much muddled, overobvious symbolism - Mary takes up gardening, which enables her to have go-nowhere heart-to-hearts with the school's earthy (what else?) groundskeeper, played by Graham Greene; the increasingly unhinged Paulie nurses a wounded hawk back to flight capability - ``Lost and Delirious'' nonetheless negotiates a slippery emotional tightrope between solid behavioral insight and show-off lunacy.

It's a strange, not always felicitous tone the film strives for, but it does achieve one uniquely its own. And that's no small accomplishment.

``LOST AND DELIRIOUS''

(Not rated: sex, nudity, language, drug use)

The stars: Piper Perabo, Jessica Pare, Mischa Barton, Graham Greene.

Behind the scenes: Directed by Lea Pool. Written by Judith Thompson, based on Susan Swan's novel ``The Wives of Bath.'' Produced by Lorraine Richard, Louis-Philippe Rochon and Greg Dummett. Released by Lions Gate Films.

Running time: One hour, 40 minutes.

Playing: Playhouse 7, Pasadena; Sunset 5, West Hollywood.

Our rating: Two and one half stars

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Piper Perabo, left, and Jessica Pare are lovers at a girls school in ``Lost and Delirious.''