FAY GRIM
US, 2007, 118 minutes, Colour.
Parker Posey, James Urbaniak, Jeff Goldblum.
Directed by Hal Hartley.
Fay Grim is a sequel to Hal Hartley’s Henry Fool, made ten years earlier. Henry Fool made a great impression with its odd characterisations, wry and witty dialogue. Fay Grim is, as the title indicates, more than a touch fey, and certainly grim. There are some humorous moments but the treatment is serious, even heavy.
Parker Posey plays Fay Grim, who encounters a CIA agent played broadly by Jeff Goldblum, who wants notebooks that belong to her husband Henry Fool, and who has become a fugitive. It is said that it has information that could compromise US security.
Fay decides to take action into her own hands and goes to Paris to recover them. She needs to be rescued at times even though she is a very strong character. The film then becomes a touch of espionage (with elements of parody) in the context of post-September 11, 2001 American atmosphere.
The film is interesting to watch in view of the career of Hal Hartley who made a number of striking small-budget films in the 1990s including The Unbelievable Truth, Trust, Simple Men, Amateur, Flirt. However, his career at the first part of the 21st century produced films which were not generally released.
Otherwise, for the uninitiated, Fay Grim is a bit mystifying – and perhaps not particularly interesting.
1. The work of Hal Hartley, independent film-making, style, small budget, strong cast, simple yet sharp screenplay, humour?
2. The film of Henry Fool, its impact? This film following the character, elaborating?
3. Fay herself, as the focus of the story, in herself, a woman, married to Henry Fool, her attitude towards him, memories? Mother of Ned, sister-in-law of Simon? The back-story, Henry Fool’s leaving the country, suspicions, Simon helping him, in jail? The court case? Fay’s attitudes, love for Henry? The arrival of Fulbright and the FBI, opening up the case, possibilities, wheels within wheels, American foreign policy, intrigue? Identities? The irony of Henry Fool being involved in so many countries, so many plans, so much technical work? The books, the confessions? Fay and her going to Paris, to Istanbul? The flashbacks – especially to Afghanistan? The final talk with Jalal and the parallels with Osama bin Laden? The overall impact? Musical score?
4. American satire, US policy in the Middle East, from the 80s into the 90s, the Iraq war? The war on terror? The range of spies? Afghanistan in the 80s, Pakistan? The hiding of Osama bin Laden? The weapons, different identities, collaboration, the American government setting up sides and pulling them down? How much related to reality? How much spoof, conspiracy theories?
5. Fay and Ned, Ned at school, the machine with the images of the orgy, the irony of the orgy and the jokes about the writing on the wall, the range of religious experts and their translation? The information, the decoding? Ned and his being expelled, Fay in the bath and reacting to her son? The talks from the principal? Wanting them to move?
6. Fay and the publisher, the friendship, the information, the editor and his wanting to exploit the books, anything that sells making a profit? Inviting her out on a date? His greater knowledge of the background? Collaboration with Fay, the FBI, Simon? His being shot? His role in the elaboration of events?
7. Fulbright and the FBI, as a person? His pleasant and naïve assistant – and Fulbright humiliating him? Fay liking him? The inquiry into Henry and his leaving for Sweden, Fulbright and his theories, the possibility that Henry did not leave the US? Fulbright and the past, his plan for ousting Jalal? The world of intrigue, deals?
8. Fay and her relation to Simon, wanting to get him out of jail? Memories of the trial? The reality of what henry did? Simon getting out, her going to Paris, phoning Simon, his involvement? Going to Turkey, his sending notes? Bebe Konchalovsky? Her death? The discovery of Henry?
9. Fay in France, the phone calls, the codes, the messages, the collecting of the books, the way she was to carry them, the spy and control, Bebe Konchalovsky and her not seeming to be involved? Meanwhile the secretary back in the US and her being the traitor? Andre on the plane, his flirting, his knowing the background, the books – and his death? The flashbacks and his role in Afghanistan? Fay eluding the pursuers, the puzzles? The effect on Fay – and her becoming stronger, a spy herself?
10. Istanbul, the planes, the various shops, the information, the hotels and the clerks? The rooms? Codes? Meeting Henry and her love for him?
11. Henry, with Jalal, the deals, his experience, being imprisoned, the friendship with Jalal, the background of the 80s, the discussion of policy, America? The parallels with Osama bin Laden?
12. The resolution, the confrontations, Fulbright? Fay and Ned? The fact that so much of the screenplay was light and frothy – but with very serious satire? The overall effect?
