THE TRUTH ABOUT JANE__

US, 2000, 90 minutes, Colour.
Stockard Channing, Emily Muth, Kelly Rowan, James Naughton, Ru Paul Charles, Jenny O’ Hara.
Directed by Lee Rose.

The Truth about Jane sounds like one of those sensationalist revelation films – and, in one sense, it is. It was released for television in 2000 but in the succeeding years has become significantly more relevant.

The Jane of the title, Emily Muth, is at high school, forms a strong friendship with a female fellow student which leads to a sexual experience, her coming out, talking with her parents and their not understanding, going through this emotional discovery and conflict in her teenage years.

In those earlier years, there were a number of television programmes dramatising for after-school television slots some of these sexual and social crises. In one sense, this film is in that vein, but with a 90 minutes running time, and with such strong actors as Stockard Channing and James Naughton as the parents, the dialogue is able to explore the themes at greater length and with some more depth.

It is a film which may help parents who find themselves, sometimes unwittingly, in this kind of situation and are not sure how to act. And it is a film which teenagers, grappling with their sexual identity, may be able to identify with and be helped to some kind of resolution.


1. A film for parents? For understanding a teenage girl and sexual orientation? The perspective of 2000?

2. A film for a teenage girls, a mirror of their lives, their stories, the need to share, unease and sexual orientation and behavior? The search for identity? Affirmation? Coping?

3. The picture of the town, homes and schools, clubs? Ordinary? Musical score and songs?

4. The title, telling the truth, accepting the truth?

5. Jane and her voiceover? Sharing her pain with the audience? Her wry sense of humor and irony? Her exasperation? Her feelings, about herself, about her mother and father, about Taylor?

6. The opening sequence with her birth, the difficulties, her father with her mother? The love of her parents? The scene with her as a child, playing?

7. Jane at 16, self-knowledge, concern, not understanding her feelings, not feeling normal, her relationship with boys, with girls?

8. Jane at school, her three girlfriends, and their later turning on her? Ned and his being attractive to the girls, his friendship with Jane, his support of her? Jane not fitting in, usual expectations of girls this age?

9. Class, Miss Woolcott and her kindness? her teaching the literature course? Offering counseling? Her helping Jane, telling her own story, the parallels, her partner, her home? Jane blurting out the truth, Janice threatening to go to the authorities? Jane taking refuge in Miss Woolcott’s house, Miss Woolcott coming to confront Janice? Janice going to her house, talking with Jane?

10. The family, ordinary, mealtimes, parents going out, Janice and her lunches with her friend and Jim? Brad and Jane clashing, the TV? Jane getting her way?

11. Janice as mother, her care for her daughter, protecting her? The worries, knowing that there was something wrong with Jane, attempting to talk? Her not understanding, yet caring? The father, his love for his daughter, supporting his wife? Discipline? Grounding?

12. Taylor, new at school, the attraction, the girls together, the visits to the homes, Taylor’s mother and Taylor’s embarrassment, explanation? The kiss? Brad seeing it? His telling people? The first sexual encounter?

13. The school, the reaction of the students? The anonymous phone call, Janice upset, trying to console Jane?

14. The growing anguish, admissions, the frankness? Jane going to see jimmy, the advice of the gay men? Ms Woolcott’s experience?

15. Taylor and her reaction, breaking off, Jane writing the letter and Taylor being touched? The real break? The effect on Jane, even suicidal?

16. The fight with Brad at the table, Jane and her vicious pushing her brother, the fight? The truth?

17. Janice, her shock, coping, her dreams for her daughter, her expectations? Jane going out, being grounded, the therapy visits?

18. Jane, desperate, going to Miss Woolcott? Janice coming to the house, her reassurance? Miss Woolcott and the strong talk to Janice?

19. Janice, going to Miss Woolcott’s house, talking with Jane?

20. The gradual change, Jane and her mother going to the group, the testimonies of the other mothers, Janice unable to admit the truth out loud?

21. Janice, discussing with her friend, with Jimmy, their tolerance, Janice and her anger and stalking off?

22. Jane’s father, taking her to the football, trying to be accommodating? Jane’s gift to Brad - killing with kindness?

23. The rally, the speakers, the placards, Janice eventually coming?

24. The message of the film? The message tone? How important for adults, parents, children?