GRACE IS GONE

US, 2007, 85 minutes,Colour.
John Cusack, Alessandro Nivola, Shellan O’Keefe?, Grace Bednarsszyk, Marisa Tomei.
Directed by James G Strouse.

Grace is Gone is a brief drama, a family tragedy, a story of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Grace is a wife and mother who serves in the military in the Middle East. Her husband, Stan (John Cusack) trying to serve his country in the military but was rejected by for poor eyesight. He is at home, with a warehouse job, looking after his two daughters at school and home. Then the news comes that his wife has been killed in action.

The film traces Stan’s psychological response to his wife’s death and his inability to tell his daughters the truth. He takes them out of school, takes them on a trip to an entertainment park in Florida, pausing to see his mother but finds his brother John (Alessandro Nivola). His views are the opposite of his rather traditional and conservative brother.

The film focuses on the two girls, a rather wise 12-year-old who knows that there is something wrong, and a little playful eight-year-old. Stan’s behaviour is erratic, and ultimately he has to tell his children the truth. This enables them to face the future.

The two girls are credible, but John Cusack’s performance seems somewhat unbelievable, especially in his trying to deal with telling the truth to his daughters.

1. The impact of the film, a piece of Americana, the beginning of the 21st century, the overseas wars for the United States, military action in Iraq, personnel trapped in Iraq, deaths, the consequences for families?

2. The title, information, tone?

3. The basic situation, Stan and his work, his work ethic, Grace as mother, wife, serving her country? The impact on the family, the little girl and the silence and the time when mother and daughters would be thinking of each other? The news of her death?

4. Stan, at work, his work ethic and encouraging the workers, wearing glasses, sight difficulties? At home, the children at school, dealing with homework, their clashes, meals?

5. The girls, their ages, planning and fighting, typical of their age? One serious, one playful?

6. The military at the door, delivering the news, Stan and his unwillingness to hear, their coming in, offering help? Stan and his bewilderment, grief?

7. The girls, noticing something different? Puzzled? Stan deciding to take them for a trip, to the entertainment park? The girls’ different reactions? Heidi in the car, the need to ring school, Heidi doing this and puzzled by this sympathetic responses?

8. Travelling in the car, songs, fights, jokes? Going to the motel, Heidi going outside, the boy, the cigarette, Stan and his heavy reaction? At the pool, swimming, the boy, his mother?

9. The visit to home, the girls going in, Stan searching for entry, finding John? John, the younger brother, his character, his appearance, scruffy, no job, his political views, the opposite to those of Stan? His taking the girls out? The phone call, hearing the news about Grace’s death? His not telling the girls? Stan leaving?

10. Staying in the motel, Heidi wanting to stay outside?

11. The entertainment park, the happy day, all the rides, ready to go home?

12. His stopping by the sea, telling them, the sound going down and the audience just watching the telling and the reactions? The grief?

13. Going home, facing the future, ready to face the future or not?