THE FALLOUT

US, 2021, 93 minutes, Colour.

Jenna Ortega, Maddie Ziegler, Niles Fitch, Will Ropp, Lumi Pollack, John Ortiz, Julie Bowen, Shailene Woodley.

Directed by Megan Park.

The title refers to the aftermath of a mass shooting in an American school. American audiences have become accustomed to such mass shootings, especially over the last 20 years and more. Audiences from other countries will still be amazed at the availability of firearms for ordinary Americans and the frequency with which there are massacres in schools.

The central character, Vada, played effectively by Jenna Ortega, is 15 years old, of mixed ethnic parents, with a sister, intelligent, good friends with a young gay student. All this changes when there is the mass shooting at the school and she takes refuge in the toilet along with fellow-student, Mia (Maddie Ziegler).

The bulk of the film is about the fallout and its effect, especially on Vada. She cannot go to school, withdraws, tries to make contact with her friend but he has found a different interpretation, wants to do something about such massacres in schools. She visits Mia and they become friends, discussing, supporting each other – which leads to a sexual encounter. Mia also introduces Vada to drugs and there are some scenes where she hallucinates quite vividly.

Ultimately, she goes back to school but is under the influence of drugs, after the encounter with Mia, feels rebuffed by Nick, tries to reach out to the brother of one of the dead students but he is in a different place emotionally. She then tells everything to her mother – which is rather a shock to her but she tries to listen. And her father takes her out to the cliff top where they have some primal screaming and swearing.

Grim suggestions at the end of the film.

1. A film for a teenage audience? Family, school, tragedy? Coping and not coping?
2. The American town, home, parents, sister, school, students, the streets, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The title? The shooting? The aftermath?
4. Introduction to Vada, 15, at home, relationship with her parents, the Hispanic father, the white American mother? Tensions with her sister? At school, asking questions in class, intelligent? The phone call, her sister and her period, the reassurance?
5. In the restrooms, Mia and the make up, hearing the shooting, taking refuge, the fears, the wounded student, the blood? Six minutes of terror?
6. Vada, coping and not coping, withdrawing? Conversations at home, her sister with a list of those who died? Vada retreating? Her relationship with Nick, chatting, friendly, his being gay? His different response to the shootings, wanting a better world, wanting to do something about it, campaigning? Loud and not able to respond? Her going to visit me, Mia and her parents abroad, the talk, friendship, the wine, stay over, Mia and her dancing? The effect on Vada, the drinking, the sexual encounter? The aftermath for each of them? Mia and the drugs, Vada approaching the dealer, getting high, the hallucinations and behaviour?
7. Her parents, trying to communicate? The mother prim? The father eventually taking voted to the cliff, shouting, swearing, release? The bond with her father?
8. Nick and his reaction and her being hurt? The meetings with Quentin, his dead brother, going with me to the service, his reticence, her affection? His response jolting her?
9. Coming home after being out, the confrontation, talking with her mother, telling her everything? Her mother trying to cope?
10. Vada by herself, thinking things through, – and the final abruptness and her emotions?