SEPARATED AT BIRTH
Canada, 2017, 90 minutes, Colour.
Paige Turco, Dominique Provost- Chalkley, Brittany Allen, Jayne Heitmeyer.
Directed by Jean- François Rivard.
At the opening, this film purports to be a true story. However, it is a melodrama about the abduction of a twin and her disappearance, the consequences for the other twin Terri, with her mother.
The abduction takes place in 1990 but in 2017, the mother is standing for the governorship of Pennsylvania, assisted by her daughter, well-educated but reckless, working in a fashion shop. Then, her abducted daughter, Lucy, appears, is the genuine twin after DNA tests.
The screenplay shifts in sympathies several times throughout, initial suspicion of Lucy, affirmation of Lucy, Terri’s resentment and her vindictiveness, Lucy is victim, a twist with Lucy as the manipulator, Terry instrumental in exposing her, and Lucy’s real motivation, stirred on by her mother who brought her up, trying to get revenge on her birth mother.
One of those guilty pleasures, melodramatic television movie from Canada, telling an American story.
1. The title? The initial information? The events in 1990? Influence in 2017?
2. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, the capital, political campaigns, the press, homes and apartments? The musical score?
3. Elizabeth Marshall, the abduction of her daughter in 1990, the effect, her bringing up the other twin, Terri? Running for governor? Her campaign manager? Continually assessing the points and differences? Her personality? Exasperation at Terri and her expensive education, not being able to settle, drinking and police arrests, job in fashion?
4. Lucy, sitting in the office, wanting to talk to Elizabeth? Audiences thinking she might be a con-woman? The earnest discussions, the willingness to have the DNA test, the test, the results? Her being welcomed by Elizabeth, into the house, the press conference, part of the campaign, popularity going up? The bonding with Terri, Terri and her resentment, being left out by her mother?
5. Lucy, as a teacher, reputation? Out on the town with Terri, drinking, the sexual encounter, Terri filming it, online, the students are school and their reactions, the authorities, Lucy being suspended?
6. Elizabeth, the reaction, political advice, Terri and her influence, the discussions with Lucy, cutting ties with her, press statements? Terri at work, the journalist and the interview, wanting to trap her – and her later getting information from the journalist and trapping her?
7. Lucy, with the authorities, being fired? Going to see Terri? Terri helping her – and finally admitting that she had done the filming?
8. The role of the police, Terri and her being held? Lucy, the accusation of the affair with the student, the email messages, the role of the officer, checking on the sources, forgeries, the fake nude photos? Are being released?
9. Elizabeth, her reaction to Terri’s behaviour, accusations? Trying to make peace with Lucy, the offer to pay her tuition fees?
10. The melodramatic entanglements, Terri at her mother’s side the campaign, then disowned? Lucy and the reconciliation?
11. Elizabeth and Lucy, the discussion, Terri recording it, evidence against Lucy, her life, with the woman who abducted her, the mothering, telling the truth, the hostility towards Elizabeth, wanting to get revenge, going to the opposition, sabotaging the campaign?
12. And an ultimate vindication for Elizabeth?
13. Melodramatic characters in dealings – credible in real life?
