FLAG DAY

US, 2021, 109 minutes, Colour.

Dylan Penn, Sean Penn, Hopper Jack Penn, Kathryn Winnick, Josh Brolin, Regina King, Beckham Crawford, Jadyn Riley, Bailey Noble, Norbert Leo Butz.

Directed by Sean Penn.

Flag Day was not widely seen on its release in 2021. However, it is worth seeing as a piece of Americana. It is a true story, based on a memoir by journalist, Jennifer Vogel.

Another reason for seeing the film is that it has been directed by Sean Penn who, over 30 years, directed a number of interesting films including Indian Runner, The Crossing, but not so successful with The Last Face. He had not appeared in any of the films he had directed but he does appear here. And, significantly, his adult children are played by his actual two children, Dylan Penn, Hopper Jack Penn. And, many note, how strongly, especially facial features, Dylan Penn resembles her mother, Robin Wright.

Flag Day is symbolic for Americans, patriotism, sense of identity – and this motif continues throughout the film, especially visuals of celebrations and parades. It is significant for John Vogel, a sense of entitlement, despite the strange arc of his life.

The film is told in flashback from the perspective of Jennifer Vogel, sequences in 1975, happiness with her father and mother, but a beginning realisation that her father is unreliable, piles of debts, disappears, and, as her mother frequently insists, he is a liar. But, abandoned, the mother takes to drink and the children decide to walk out on her, returning to their father. But, after a happy summer, he cannot manage them and returns them to their mother. Mixed happy and unhappy childhood, different images of mother, father.

The narrative moves on six years, Jennifer in rebellion, black hair, drugs, failing at school, unreliable company, hostile to her mother, abandoning her brother, walking out, seeking her father. She does attempt something of his rehabilitation, believing that he could change, but… Even to his robbing a bank and sentenced to prison.

Jennifer in herself has ambitions to be a journalist, despite fabricating references, her sample essays when her a place at the University, leading to successful journalism, a glimpse of this (and with a small cameo from Britain Eddie Marsasn) in an attempt to expose the poisoning of the water system of Minnesota.

However, her father has come back to see her after release from prison, but she still finds him a liar – and suddenly, on television, sees the post police in pursuit of him, the crash, choose one all shooting himself and, a return to the scene at the beginning where in 1992, Jennifer is told that her father had been an expert in counterfeit money producing.

Audiences interested in complex and dysfunctional American families may find this film of interest – but an affirmation in some ways of family with Sean Penn working with his children.

1. The title, American identity, the holiday, the parades, the inclusion of glimpses of Flag Day throughout the film, in connection with John and his beliefs?
2. American settings, Arizona, Minnesota, the seasons? Poor neighbourhoods, homes, interiors? The contrast with the lake and their holiday atmosphere? The countryside, moving around? Newspaper offices? University of Minnesota? The musical score?
3. Sean Penn acting and directing, his children in the central roles?
4. The introduction, the story about John, his death, printing the money, its quality, Jennifer, the close-ups on her face, wanting to touch the money, her grief? The framework for the flashbacks and her memories of her father?
5. The voice-over, Jennifer telling the story, love for her father, disappointment in him, disillusionment, the final grief?
6. The family, the children, the holiday, the enjoyment, John and his care for his children? Jennifer’s comments, the happy sequences but his moving out, Jennifer looking out the window? His disappearances? The consequences for their mother, her drinking, the debts John piled up, the hard years? The children walking out, wanting to be with their father? Finding him, his relationship with Debbie, cheerful times?
7. John, Sean Penn’s presence, performance, age, background, marriage, the children, seeing himself as an entrepreneur, the various jobs, money? Continual revelation of his lying? With the children, not being able to manage the children? The bus, returning them to their mother?
8. Six years passing, Jennifer failing at school, company, drugs, her black hair, clashes with her mother? Her brother, his age, subservient in the house? The confrontation with her mother, walking out?
9. Seeking out her father, his reaction, her hair, his situations, his explanations, her moving in?
10. Jennifer, her wandering times, the effect on her, wanting to change? Wanting to change her father, sprucing him up, his hair, clothes, briefcase, his applications for jobs? Seeing him go to work, seeming success? Jennifer suspecting the truth, his empty briefcase?
11. Jennifer, her own ambitions, journalism, the approach to the University, writing the sample articles, the discussion with the Dean, fabricating her references, his having the photo of her father in prison, asking her what she wanted to do, to make an impact? Allowing her to the University, the years passing, her graduation, her mother and brother present? The reconciliation with her mother?
12. John, money, the decision to rob the bank, the wig and the disguise, seemingly successful, the chase, the arrest,, the mark on his forehead from the wing her disillusionment with him? The money in the letterbox, her leaving it?
13. His years in prison, her not getting in contact? Her success, the years passing, her investigative journalism, the pollution of the water, the interview with the executive, seeing the chase on the television, the crash, her father shooting himself?
14. And back to the beginning, the money, touching it, memories of her father? Her own later success in writing the memoir?