DINNER IN AMERICA
US, 2020, 106 minutes, Colour.
Kyle Gallner, Emily Skeggs, Leah Thompson, Nick Chinlund, Sean Rogers, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Pat Healy, Griffin Gluck.
Directed by Adam Reihmeier.
This is a small budget independent film, winner of quite a number of awards at small festivals.
The title is evocative, two key scenes in the film of the family dinners, arguments, bickering, smoothing things out, contrasting with praying grace but the telling of lies. And there are some dinners in diners.
The focus of the film is on Simon, unlikeable, obnoxious in behaviour flirting with a girl, going home to her house, dinner with her parents, misbehaviour with the wife, being ousted. He also makes contact with a young girl, Patty, who has limited mental abilities. Once again, he ingratiates himself, going to her family’s house for dinner, posing as a son of African missionaries, but also provocative, wanting to stay while he hides from drug dealers.
Most of the film shows the relationship between Patty and Simon, she at home, trying to be defiant, follower of a band and writing cards to the band leader (who turns out to be Simon who is shocked by the discovery), working in a pet shop being treated badly by the owner, not paid, mocked by the sports jocks and their girlfriends.
In fact, Simon and Patty Bond, Simon showing a bit more humanity, defending Patty against the jocks but being bashed (and, to his and Patty’s – and the audiences – bringing on their violent comeuppance).
There are further revelations about Simon, his affluent family, misfit, ousted, intruding on the house. Then there is relationship with the members of his band and money problems. And, the development of the relationship with Patty and defending her, and confronting the owner of the shop for her payment.
The film is well acted, the characters credible, even if not likeable.
- Expectations from the title? The number of dinners seen in the film? Family dinners and interactions? Dinners in diners?
- Independent film, small budget, the cast?
- Themes, misfits, family pressure, bullying, mental abilities, relationships?
- The focus on Simon, unlikeable for most of the film, seen eating, flirting, going home with the girl, dinner with the family, his manners and style, wanting somewhere to stay, the wife and the kissing, ousted? Wandering, hiding?
- Patty, her parents, district background, scenes at home, Kevin as adopted and the later revelation about this and effect on him? Her work at the shop, treatment by the owner, not paying her? Abusive behaviour? At the bus stop, on the bus, the two boys and their bullying her, the two boys kissing and their girlfriends in the bus, mocking her? Physical and mental bullying? Her going home, her room, music, the band, writing letters and cards to the leader of the band?
- Kevin, teenager, surly at the dinner table, discovering he was adopted, the drugs with Simon, their friendship, change of attitudes?
- Simon, the band, talking with the fellow musicians, their urging for a deal, the stoned member siding with Simon? Their music? Punk? Simon and his hairdo and people’s comments?
- Simon, the encounters with Patty, the attraction, going home, the meal, his telling lies, his parents as missionaries in Tanzania, blurting out Kevin’s adoption, Patty’s embarrassment having told him? The effect on the parents? His asking to stay, with Patty?
- The time together, the bonding, her story, his going to their home, getting her to sing her creative songs, the discovery that she was writing the cards, mixing the music, the family coming home, the hostility of the various members, Simon and his reactions, the husband and the children, aggressive behaviour, being ousted?
- The night with Patty, sexual, emotional, the effect?
- The boys and their mockery, going to their sports event, Simon taunting them, their bashing him? The revenge, getting Patty to lure them, bashing and stripping them, setting fire to their clothes, the reaction of the coach and the other players?
- The confrontation with the owner of the pet shop, the new employee, demanding the payment?
- Simon, his identity as Johnny, his role in the band, going to the venue, the clash with the producer, money issues? Onstage, performance, Pat’s response?
- Likeable and unlikeable characters, misfits, family and society pressures, behaviour, unsympathetic, sympathetic?
