STRANGE BUT TRUE
US, 2019, 96 minutes, Colour.
Nick Robinson, Amy Ryan, Greg Kinnear, Brian Cox, Margaret Qualley, Connor Jessup, Blythe Danner, Allegra Fulton.
Directed by Rowan Athale.
An intriguing title – for an emotional mystery rather than thriller.
For those who watch murder mysteries or for those who read Detective stories, it is likely that they will work out what has been happening as the film goes on so that the final twist may well not be a twist for them but something that they had been anticipating. So, a surprise ending for some, the expected for others.
The film starts with an intriguing pursuit through the woods, the hero in danger. And then, the announcement of two days earlier. We get to know who is being pursued but not the identity of the pursuer.
This is very much a film about family. We soon learn that the older son of the family has been killed in a road accident (visualised at the end of the film). It is five years since he has died. His mother is angry and bitter (rather an understatement) and is played intensely by Amy Ryan. She and her husband, Greg Kinnear, have separated after the accident and he has married again, living in Florida. There is a second son, Philip, played by Nick Robinson, who lives at home but has been involved in an accident and is walking on crutches, edgy with his mother.
And then the plot becomes rather strange – even as we suspect that the situation is not true. The older son’s girlfriend comes to visit, visibly pregnant, announcing that the dead son is the father! What to think? Virginal conception – some background information on that possibility. Frozen sperm – and the mother follows that line of investigation. Likely candidates for the father? Yes.
The plot veers towards drama about Philip, his concern about the pregnant woman, hearing about her dabbling in magic and psychics, his own visit to a psychic who reads him very effectively (and does remark that a psychic needs a very good memory as well) and challenges him to do something with his own life, finding confidence in unburdening to the young woman.
The young woman, Melissa (Margaret Qualley) works at a local hardware store, is cared for by a benign couple, Brian Cox and Blythe Danner, the young woman being something of a substitute daughter.
There are further developments and plot revelations which means that all the central characters are present at the end – and we see the initial chase again, and quite some melodramatics.
As mentioned, a surprise ending for some, the expected for others, and strong performances from the cast. And, eventually, some hope.
1. The title? Expectations?
2. The town, homes, the roads, cottages, the library, hospitals, the prom? The contrast with the Florida sequences? The musical score?
3. Philip, the chase, crutches, pursuit? Going back to days, further flashbacks? The return to this sequence?
4. Melissa, her visit, her story, Ronnie dead for five years, her sense of his spirit, the mysterious pregnancy? Philip and his response, more sympathetic? Charlene and her anger? Issues of virginal conception? Issues of frozen sperm, the leads, Charlene’s research? Male candidates for fatherhood, Bill, Richard?
5. Charlene, her experience, anger, bitterness, Philip and his meals, the impact of the accident, anger and grief, Richard leaving, his marrying Holly? Her reaction to Melissa? The memories of Ronnie, her grudge against the librarian and the explanation, researching frozen sperm? Visiting Gail, the information about the payment of the rent, phone calls to Richard, meeting him at the airport, standing on the bridge, the accusations? Philip’s phone call, the searching? The sense of dread of the house, meeting Bill? The melodrama and confrontation?
6. Richard, his memories, his explanation about the situation, Charlene not helping him with his grief? Meeting Melissa, paying the rent? His relationship with Holly? Practising in Florida? Coming to New York? The encounter with Charlene, his explanations? Sharing the search for Philip?
7. Philip, his age, his friendship with Ronnie, grief at his death? Melissa’s visit, his sympathy, the frozen sperm? Visiting Chantrelle, her psychic reading of him, encouraging him? His telling his true story to Melissa? The accident and its consequences? His decision to help Melissa, the visit, about to give birth? Discovering the truth about Bill? The pursuit? Bill taking him, hitting him, preparing to bury him? His grabbing Bill’s legs, the fight, the rescue?
8. Bill and Gail, a pleasant couple, 30 years, no children, responsibility for Melissa? Bill and his deception about the smoking? The tablets and Gail discovering them? His past, police, his work, the shop? The truth, Gail, her disappointment, confrontation, the fight, her death?
9. Melissa, the car, driving herself to the hospital, giving birth?
10. Philip, the rescue? The confrontation with Bill, Bill’s killing himself?
11. The expected turn of events for many audiences? Twists for others? Questions about Melissa, the men and impregnation? The flashbacks to the prom, her memories, the foolishness of Ronnie’s death?
12. The birth of the baby, and the family gathering together, some unity and reconciliation?
