Drama: A young woman, recenlty released from prison, attempts a new start to her life in a small town in Maine.
PLOT:
Percy Talbot (ALISON ELIOT) is released from prison and goes to the small town of Gilead, Maine where she hopes to have a new start at life. She gets a job at the Spitfire Grill working for the cantankerous owner, Hannah Ferguson (ELLEN BURSTYN), but draws more stares than greetings from the locals including Nahum (WILL PATTON), Hannah's nephew and town snoop. Eventually Percy is accepted by some of the locals such as Nahum's wife Shelby (MARCIA GAY HARDEN), who helps out in the grill after Hannah injures her hip. An idea to raffle off the grill makes Percy more popular, but that and her interaction with "Johnny B," a homeless man, increases Nahum's suspicions of her and leads to a climatic finale.
WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Older teens might, but the lack of popular stars and the story's slow pace will keep most kids away.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For thematic elements.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
ALISON ELIOT plays the former con who was imprisoned for manslaughter (for killing her stepfather after he repeatedly beat and raped her), but who wants to start anew in this small town.
ELLEN BURSTYN plays the cantankerous owner of the grill who turns out to have a warm heart under her hardened exterior.
WILL PATTON plays the local snoop and pessimist who doesn't give Percy a chance and judges her without knowing her at all.
This small film is far more entertaining than most of the recent big budget Hollywood "blockbusters" that we've been subjected to. With original, three-dimensional characters and superb performances all around (especially from Eliot with her perfect Appalachian accent) these people seem real and will stick with you longer than the cardboard cut outs we're used to seeing. While the mystery elements that lead us through the story aren't that difficult to figure out, the plot does keep the audience interested throughout the movie. We give this enjoyable, fresh film a 7 out of 10.
OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
The only objectionable things here are discussions of events that occurred before the movie begins. The biggest one is Percy's recollection of having been repeatedly raped and beaten by her stepfather. The years of such abuse culminated in her getting pregnant and when he wouldn't let her be, she ended up killing him (and being charged with manslaughter). Other than that, read through the listings (there isn't much there as very few objectionable events occur) before deciding whether this movie is appropriate for your children.
The townspeople (especially Nahum) don't give Percy a chance at the new start in life she wants. They are judgmental and not friendly to her (but some warm up as the story moves on).
Nahum isn't respectful of his wife and tells her that the idea to raffle off the grill could not have been hers because she isn't smart enough to think up such an idea.
The early scenes of the strange homeless man in the woods may be a bit scary to younger kids (because we don't know who the man is and whether he's dangerous or not).
Percy tries to cross a river to warn "Johnny B" about the men coming after him, but is swept downstream into the rapids where she ends up going across a steep water fall and is later found dead.
Accepting someone new while not dwelling on their past.
We learn that Percy's stepfather repeatedly raped and beat her for many years and that one day she finally had enough and killed him (and was imprisoned for manslaughter).
Percy dies from her violent trip down the rapids of a river.
Percy tells a story about an Indian woman and her baby who encounter two sailors who believe that Indian babies can swim from birth. So they sink her canoe and the baby drowns.
Hannah slaps Percy on the face after getting mad at her.
We learn that Percy's stepfather repeatedly raped and beat her for many years and that one day she finally had enough and killed him (and was imprisoned for manslaughter).
Nahum points his gun at "Johnny B" but doesn't shoot as the homeless man rushes off and tries to save Percy.
Percy dies from her violent trip down the rapids of a river.
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