STORY OF A GIRL
US, 2017, 90 minutes, Colour.
Ryann Shane, Kevin Bacon, Jon Tenney, Susie Bacon, Sarah Grey, Tyler Johnston, Iain Belcher, Carolyn Cave.
Directed by Kyra Sedgwick.
This film is based on a Young Adult novel by Sarah Zarr, much acclaimed. However, it is not an easy watch.
The girl in question is Deanna, played by Ryann Shane, mid teens, scorned, because, at age 13, her boyfriend filmed them having sex and the video became viral. The also complications at home, her father despising her, her mother trying to support her. And her brother and his wife and the young child also live at home, the brother resenting his sister because of the scandal and his inability to branch out on the life of his own.
Deanna gets a job in a diner during the summer break. It is owned and managed by a sympathetic gay man, played by Kevin Bacon, listening to Deanna, giving her advice. It is complicated by the former boyfriend also works at the diner, complications in his relationship with Deanna. There are no easy solutions.
The film is a directorial debut of actress, Kyra Sedgwick (who has gone on to direct a number of TV episodes). Her husband, Kevin bacon, plays Mike and their daughter, Susie, plays their daughter in law.
- Title? Deanna and her story? The introduction, school, interactions with the students, their mocking her? The revelation about the video? When she was 13? The aftermath, mockery from students, the severity of her father’s judgement, her mother sympathetic, her being supported by her brother and his hitting her mockers?
- The American town, home and the basement, garage and repairs, the school, the Pizza Hut, to the sea, the neighbourhood?
- The portrait of Deanna, three years later, the price she paid, yet her self-assertion, hurt by her father, supported but sometimes exasperated by her mother? Friendship with her brother, with Stacey and the baby? The domestic scenes, the discussions, her father’s stances?
- Her friends, the support, yet her later arguing with them, the break, the continued friendship?
- The interview with Michael, the discussion, his style? Are Getting the job, working, training? The difficulty with Tommy working as well? Their past? His attitude towards her, jokes, innuendo? The complex effect, her disliking him, yet the attraction? The interactions at work?
- Michael, his story, family, studies, dropping out, the two marriages, gay? His support of Deanna? Her brother suspicions? Reassurance? Michael going out of his way to help her?
- The clash at home, the challenge to her father, his taking her to the car sales, offering to buy the car, her driving? The gift? His difficulty in expressing his love for his daughter verbally?
- Deanna, changing Stacey’s hair, Darren and his work, not able to complement Stacey? Her going to the party, disappearing for two days, his reaction? Talking with Deanna, her able to persuade him, Stacey’s return? The finding their independent apartment?
- Deanna, reconsidering her situation, advice, speaking frankly with Tommy, able to forgive him, his acknowledging how bad he felt?
- The story of a teenage girl – and her prospects for the future?
