IMOGENE

US 2012, 103 minutes, Colour.
Kristen Wiig, Anette Benning, Matt Dillon, Darren Criss, Christopher Fitzgerald, Bob Balaban, Natasha Lyonne, Julia Stiles, Andrea Martin.
Directed by Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini.

A comedy with serious undertones.

Imogene was a precocious young girl, asserting herself. However, she grows up to a less than self-confident woman, affected by the death of her father when she was young, wanting to move out from the dominance of her erratic mother, working in New York City, feted by some upper crust friends, in a relationship with a man from Holland. Then it all goes wrong.

Imogene is fired, attempt suicide (the people praise the literary style of her note), is released from hospital under the care of her mother and she retires to the family home in New Jersey. Besides being in contact with her mother again, she finds a young man, Lee, occupying her room, a strange man who says he is a government agent in partnership with her mother and finding again her somewhat autistic, perhaps, younger brother. The film deals with Imogene finding herself, discovering that her father is alive, helping her brother, seeing her friends in New York City in a new light as they spurn her and, finally, going back to write plays as she originally intended to.

A strong cast including Kristen Wiig as Imogene, Annette Bening as her mother, Matt Dillon as the government agent, Darren Criss as Lee, Christopher Fitzgerald as the brother and Bob Balaban as the long-lost father. Writing and direction is by the film-making team of Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, makers of such films as American Splendor, The Nanny Diaries, The Extra Man.

1. The title? The alternative: The Girl Most Likely? The focus on Imogene?

2. A New Jersey story in New York story? Homes, workplaces, theatre, clubs…? The musical score?

3. The tone, the blend of real and imagination, comic and serious, wry?

4. Imogene as a little girl, in the play, as Dorothy, criticising the meaning, not wanting to lose the star role? At home, difficulties with her father, the story of her father’s death, relating to Ralph? Hard life, and other gambling, relationships?

5. Imogene and her work, New York City, her friends, their gossip, criticism? Her author friend? Her relationship with Peter, the devastation when he broke
off with her? At work, her writing, being fired? At home, the suicide note – and everybody commenting on its being well-written , going to hospital, the treatment? Her mental state, erratic behaviour, comments? Her friends? Phoning her mother to take custody of her? Imogene at home, finding her room occupied, the sexual behaviour, reaction against Lee? The discovery of The Bousche, Ralph and his idiosyncrasies, his crabs, shell creatures? His building the tent for her?

6. Lee, his girlfriend, the clash with Imogene, the fact that he went to Yale, studied music? In the band? Her forcing him to take her to New York, tossing the coin? His patience with her, talking, listening? Going to the club, her listening to the music, her being drawn in, out on the town, her extroverted behaviour, coming home, the sexual encounter, the aftermath, her mother’s reaction and thanking Lee?

7. The Bousche and his style, his being a government agent, the love for Zelda, the discussions, food, his job, the mythology, the reality at the end, the assassin holding the group to ransom? But his not wanting to be photographed for his government job?

8. Ralph, going to the boardwalk, his stall with the crabs, his detailed knowledge, the information in his room, his building the shell and demonstrating it, to hide and conceal oneself the girl at the other stand, his infatuation, Imogene trying to interest her in Ralph? She having a boyfriend, her own life?

9. The discovery of the truth about her father, the reaction, learning that he was an academic, that he had published a book, going to the library, taking the book and being pursued? Reading it? Her mother’s reaction? The story? Ralph knowing all the time, hiring the private detective when he was 21? Giving Imogene the address? Lee driving them, Imogene and Ralph going to visit? The maid, the affluent house, his wife and her welcome, not knowing that they existed? The character of the father, academic, the encounter with Zelda when he was young, the children, his not relating well to them, his leaving, another life? Thinking they wanted money? Imogene’s anger at him?

10. Imogene going to the book launch, her dress standing out, the women gossiping, her author friend telling her off? Seeing Peter? The clash and insults?

11. Lee reading her plays, liking them, her past, the award, not fulfilling her potential?

12. Success, writing, the performance of her play, everybody present and happy?

13. A portrait of an oddball character – with some insight?