GLASS HOUSES
Canada, 2020, 90 minutes, Colour.
Bree Turner, Aviva Mongillo, Steve Byers, Kyra Guloien, Zoie Palmer.
Directed by Sarah Pelerin.
This is a popular thriller from Canada, the main action taking place in the one street, the carefully manicured elite street, something of a gate community.
The action focuses on a young woman who wants to defend her mother who has been humiliated by the dominating ruler of the street. It involves local politics, the ousting of her mother who now works in a supermarket, the young woman a babysitter for families in the street, planning her revenge.
The film shows the dominant woman, her controlling people, wanting the street to be spick and span, an example to all, critical of some of the other people in the street, demanding on them.
The woman has a tenuous relationship with her husband, their baby, the young woman abducting the baby and ingratiating herself by “finding� it. On the other hand, she tracks down the haughty wife and finds a sordid story background which she exposes – so, people in glass houses, should not throw stones!
1. A popular thriller from Canada? The American settings? Characters? Conflicts?
2. The action confined to the street, suburbia, affluent, the street and facades, interiors? The visit to the motel? The musical score?
3. The title, about people not throwing stones…?
4. The affluent street, Madaline Cooper, snobbish, her relationship with her husband, his business, the young son, her wanting the street to be a gated community, tidying up, her demands?
5. Carrie, teenage, next-door, ordinary, her girlfriend and their conversations? The antipathy towards Madaline, the attack on her mother, the false accusation, losing her job and reputation, her mother working in the supermarket? Carrie and her babysitting to get money for her mother?
6. Vivienne, her husband, daughter, Carrie babysitting, playing in the street, hitting Madaline’s car? Carrie discovering Vivienne and the cocaine?
7. Madaline and her ambitions, for the local council? Discussions with her husband?
8. Carrie, antagonism towards Madaline, babysitting Daniel, going through Madaline’s things, the discovery of the $25,000 check, following in the car, her mother’s poor health and home, the rendezvous at the motel, taking the pictures? The abduction of Daniel, everybody frantic, Carrie and her girlfriend, bringing the boy back? Carrie asking for more money? Madaline’s husband appreciative and wanting Carrie to continue babysitting?
9. Carrie and her mother, her mother wanting to leave things be, calmer in her difficulties?
10. Carrie searching the house, Madaline having it on video? Madaline and her husband’s stepfather visiting, the meal, Carrie seeing his ring, the photo? Sending photos to Madaline?
11. Her husband and his suspicions, confronting his wife, the fact of his stepfather?
12. Madaline, the buildup to the confrontation, electrifying the pool, Carrie’s girlfriend being killed? Madaline’s anger, the meltdown in the street, confronting all those watching?
13. A story of vindictiveness, revenge?
