AMERICAN WOMAN

US, 2018, 111 minutes, Colour.

Sienna Miller, Christina Hendricks, Amy Madigan, Aaron Paul, Sky Ferreira, Will Sasso, Pat Healey, Aidan Fiske, E.Roger Mitchell.

Directed by Jake Scott.

This drama has good credentials, direction by Jake Scott, son of director Ridley Scott. The screenplay was written by Brad Inglesby who was to achieve some fame with his writing of the multi-award-winning Mare of Easttown.

This film also has a Pennsylvania setting, a blue-collar town, ordinary American life.

The focus is on Deb, a very fine performance by British Siena Miller as the American Woman, mother at 17, no father in sight, looking after her daughter who has also given birth to a son and his father neglecting to visit.

The film establishes the character of Deb, her relationship with her family, especially a sympathetic older sister played by Christina Hendricks and a mother who antagonises her daughter continually, played by Amy Madigan.

The drama is heightened when Deb’s daughter disappears without trace, despite an effort by the whole town to search for her.

There are several time periods in the film, the film moving from one to another very quickly, with the audience needing to be alert. The clue is in the age of the young boy, Jesse, Deb’s grandson whom she is raising.

There is a sequence some years later, Ray (Pat Healey) living with the family and supporting them – but a controller and ultimately violent who is ousted by Deb. On the other hand, she begins a commerce course, floundering at first, but as the film progresses we see her succeeding, graduating, able to help groups of women with their courses.

There is some hope for Deb when her sister introduces her to, Aaron Paul, and after eight weeks together, they marry, the joyful wedding ceremony, and the aftermath. The film then moves on some years, the audience hoping that all will be well – but a revelation that Chris has been having an affair and Deb demands that he leave. He tries to come back but she is adamant.

At the end, information comes as to the finding of her daughter and other victims of abduction and murder. She wants to interrogate the killer – and the screenplay moves out of words to focus on images and action as she has the interview, the consequences, for herself and Jesse and the rest of the family, and a visit to the burial site.

Ordinary blue-collar Americans – who could be trapped in their lives but who could find ways of moving beyond.

1. The title? Deb as representative of American women? The ordinary American woman? Blue-collar Pennsylvania? Small town? Wife/partner? Mother? Grandmother?
2. The Pennsylvania setting, the town, houses, workplaces, bars, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The timespan, the various chapters in Deb’s life, the transitions and the ageing of Jesse?
4. Deb, Siena Miller’s presence and performance, initial age, having Brigid when she was 17, the absent father, Brigid and Jesse, at home, Brigid supporting her mother, her mother, the affair with a married man (and her later rushing to him, his wife and her ousting Deb)? Her relationship with Kath, older sister, wise advice, support and understanding? Her antagonism towards her mother, insulting her?
5. Brigid’s disappearance, Deb’s anguish, going to see Tyler, insulting him, his not knowing her whereabouts, not visiting Jesse? Going to friends, trying to trace her actions? Going to the police, upset, the sympathetic listening? The townspeople all involved in the search?
6. The transition to the next phase, Jesse growing up, Ray and his place in the household, severe, demanding, especially when Jesse? Kath disapproving of Ray? Her mother disapproving? The violence in the house, Deb standing up for herself, threatening, evicting him?
7. Deb, by herself, getting older, her studies course, not working the computer? The later achievement of her course, graduation? Helping the women’s group in the town, advice, success?
8. Kath, setting her up with, the meal with Chris, Deb’s complaint about his clothes, his going to see her at the diner, the date, the bonding, the relationship? Jesse and the relationship? The wedding, after eight weeks, her mother warning her against the wedding? In church, the celebration, Terry’s speech? Happiness all round?
9. The years passing, Deb and her accomplishments, business, work? Chris and his work, Jesse and school, dating, the dance, his shyness and reluctance, persuading him to go to the dance?
10. Deb, seeing Chris, following him, the six months affair, his leaving? Deb and the decision to sell the house, to move? Chris coming, $15 for the item? Deb not taking him back?
11. The detective, the news about the abductions and killings, Deb wanting to interview the killer? The visuals rather than dialogue about this meeting, the aftermath, the effect on Deb? Going to the site, with Jesse, sadness, possible closure?
12. The audience following Deb’s life, her angers, unsympathetic, her demands, relationship with her sister, her mother, her grandson, the visit with Tyler and his promise to keep in touch, Chris and his infidelity, her future?