TRUST

US, 2010, 106 minutes, Colour.
Clive Owen, Catherine Keener, Liana Liberato, Jason Clarke, Viola Davis.
Directed by David Schwimmer.

Trust is a film well worth seeing, especially by adults, and parents with their teenage children. It is a story about the Internet, Internet communication and lies. In this case, the 15 year old daughter of a couple, Clive Owen and Catherine Keener, makes contact with someone who says that he is a student, gradually reveals that he is older, and makes an appointment to meet her which she eagerly does. He flatters her, buys her special underwear, and then takes her to a room and assaults her.

The FBI investigate, the girl goes to a counsellor, is angry at her parents. Eventually, the criminal is unmasked, a quiet man who lives with his family but who has preyed on other girls.

The cast is strong, and includes Viola Davis as the counsellor and Jason Clarke as the investigator.

The film offers a great deal to think about, and especially a cautionary tale for adolescents and their being deceived online in chat rooms.

The direction is by actor, David Schwimmer.


1. The title, in relationship to each character? The trust of the young girl in a grooming situation? In an information technology world?

2. An Internet story, the technology, its use, availability? Truth and lies? Anonymity? The revelation of the truth to Annie? The role of the FBI and investigations? The role of the predator, the revelation of his being a family man? The prevalence of occasions and abilities to abuse? Gullibility? The credulity of victims?

3. An ordinary family? Audiences identifying with the family? The earnest and loving parents, the needs of a teenage girl? The issue of whom can she trust? Her angers? Her being seduced? Her fight with her parents, bitterness? Learning from the experience?

4. Will, a good father? The irony of his job, advertising, the campaigns, the images, sexuality and exploitation? The meetings, the launch parties? The film’s critique of such advertising campaigns?

5. Lynn, loving and concerned mother, the household, children? Her bewilderment at her husband’s rage? Her care for her daughter?

6. Annie, her age, experience, her friends, at school, communicating with her parents? Online? Her room? Thinking that the man in the chat room was young, the effect on her, and growing dependence?

7. Charlie, in the chat room, making connection, the connection via words, conversation and chat, false pictures? His description, the changing age, studies, older, career? The plausibility of his communications? The language of love, the effect?

8. Annie, her deciding to meet Charlie despite her parents, despite the truth? The rendezvous, her friend seeing her and telling authorities, the consequences?

9. Charlie, his age, his lies, the considerable differences, constructing his story, buying her the red underwear, the hotel room, her wearing the underwear, his flattery, language of love, sexual experience, rape? His crimes?

10. Parents and their discovering what happened, the reactions, Will and his anger, alienating Annie? His anger with Charlie, the violent expressions? The arrival of the FBI, the jurisdiction, Doug Tate and his leading the investigation, explanations to the family, Will and his defying the regulations, taking the documents and examining them, going to New Jersey and not telling Lynn? At meetings, distracted, at the party? The clashes with Lynn, her feeling of being deceived?

11. Lynn, at home, quiet desperation, controlling her anger, channeling her care for Annie, the talks? Her upset with Will and his trip to New Jersey?

12. The effect on Annie, the hospital, the tests? With her parents, refusing communication, going to her room? With the FBI? The meetings with the counselor, the counselor and her consideration, openness, the possibilities of breakthrough?

13. Will’s vigilante approach and mentality, and over-protective?

14. The work of Doug Tate, the resources of the FBI, tracking down Charlie, linking with other cases and similarities? Discovering him, the scene of his arrest, at home with his family? His crimes?

15. The gradual effect on Annie, moving into her mid-teens, learning about girls and being impressionable, values and change? The effect on her personality, reconciliation with her friend after her anger with her, reconciliation with her parents? Consequences for life?

16. A film for parents to learn about such situations, perhaps too difficult for victims to watch? Education for teenagers?