SFW

US, 1994, 92 minutes, Colour.
Stephen Dorff, Reese Witherspoon, Jake Busey, Joey Lauren Adams.
Directed by Jefery Levy.

SFW is another film about Generation X, the angry generation of the '90s.

Stephen Dorff (The Power of One, I Killed Andy Warhol, Blade) portrays a young teenager who becomes a media sensation when he becomes involved in a hostage crisis at a local store. Rhys Witherspoon, also at the beginning of her very successful career (Election, Legally Blonde) portrays one of the hostages, a cheerleader who would have a contempt for the Dorff character. However, as they experience the long siege, they become dependent on each other.

The film has a sardonic look at suburban violence, the suddenness of guns and a siege in a suburban shop, the reaction of the press, especially the tabloids and the sensation-mongering that goes on, making personalities of people who never dreamt that they would be so much in the public eye.

The SFW of the title refers, of course, to the swearing, So Fucking What.

1. A film of the '90s, violence, ordinary people, heroes, creations of the media and commerce? Reality?

2. The film as an American phenomenon? World-wide? California settings, the realistic photography, video style? The use of MTV and its moods? The style of media shows? The range of the musical score, songs and sounds?

3. The title, Spab's chant? Being taken up by the TV audience, old and young? A cry for the confused '90s?

4. The story of the siege: Spab telling the story, the group going to the store, trapped for 36 days? The anonymous group of terrorists? Their disguise, being seen only behind the cameras, the final shootings? Their videoing their prisoners? The media demand, the screening of the material on TV every night for 36 days? (Problems about language and behaviour?) The build-up of the story: Spab and the 36 days and the transformation, Wendy, Joe, the two adults? Their being taken, the treatment, eating fast food, the drinking, the beer, the interactions? The letting go of the hostage - and her being shot? Joe and his comments about what was happening? The final shoot-out?

5. The range of people watching on TV, the age differences, the range of response, every night? Groups forming in support of Spab? Recognising him in the streets, his going to the shop and seeing the range of media merchandise? The awe of people who met him? The old couple and their behaviour? The question of contracts, interviews (and the actor imitating Phil Donohue, Sam Donaldson and others)? The format of the interview - stereotyped? His finally having his own show, subject, way of talking, the guests, the elderly ladies? His going on the lecture circuit?

6. Cliff in himself, aged 20, his way of life, idle, drugs, drinking beer, language, sexual relationships, lack of work, clashes with his parents? In hospital and the aftermath of the ordeal? His brother in the limousine, their going home, the party and his walking out, eagerly smashing up his room with his brother? The clashes with his father, language, wanting the contracts? His mother? Going to visit Joe's sister, her reaction at her brother's death, Cliff being still alive? The encounter, sexual relationship? Broken off? His relationship with Wendy, wanting to see her? Watching her on television? The FBI agent and his suspicions, pursuing Spab? Morrow and his friendship, the fact that Morrow had not been killed? Going to see the sister and discussions about law, the sexual relationship? His driving around, watching the media circus, being recognised? Looking at images of himself, the mirror, the effect? Finally meeting Wendy, the bond between the two, support and sanity? The sexual relationship? Going to the school, being shot at, the effect? His slogan of SFW?

7. Wendy, in the siege, her reactions, behaviour, nice young girl, the effect of the siege, the escape, the television interviews, her mother protecting her, her mother not allowing her to see Spab, their eventual meeting, relationship, sexual encounter? At the school, being shot at? In the hospital? Her becoming a celebrity?

8. Cliff's family and background: his brother, coming to the hospital in the limousine, the smashing up of the room, the father and his swearing, restrictions about language, wanting the money and the contracts?
9. Spab's friends, Joe, the experience of the siege, his verbal reactions, his death, his sister and the sexual relationship, Morrow and his hustling (and not being dead), his sister, legal implications, seductive?

10. The paranoid FBI agent and his aggressive behaviour? On the talk shows? Spab having to evade detection?

11. Spab and his own talk show, topic, style, the old women guests?

12. The speech at the school, the scowling girl, her bringing out the gun, her shooting Spab and Wendy, her slogan: the exact opposite of SFW - it does matter? A martyr for meaning? The media hype taking her up? A new hero for the media? The similar types of in-depth interviews...?

13. Media hype, distorting reality, merchandising - images of the US of the '90s?