Palindromes (2004)

Director:

Todd Solondz

Writer:

Todd Solondz (written by)

Release Date:

21 January 2005 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Adventure | Comedy

Plot:

Aviva is thirteen, awkward and sensitive. Her mother Joyce is warm and loving, as is her father, Steve, a regular guy who does have a fierce temper from time to time. The film revolves around her family, friends and neighbors.

Plot Keywords:

Kansas | Neighbor | New Jersey | Suburb | Charades

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Matthew Faber	...	Mark Wiener
Angela Pietropinto	...	Mrs. Wiener
Bill Buell	...	Mr. Wiener
Emani Sledge	...	'Dawn' Aviva
Ellen Barkin	...	Joyce Victor
Valerie Shusterov	...	'Judah' Aviva
Richard Masur	...	Steve Victor
Hillary B. Smith	...	Robin Wallace
Danton Stone	...	Bruce Wallace
Robert Agri	...	First Judah
Hannah Freiman	...	'Henry' Aviva
Stephen Singer	...	Dr. Fleischer
Rachel Corr	...	'Henrietta' Aviva
Stephen Adly Guirgis	...	Joe / Earl / Bob
Will Denton	...	'Huckleberry' Aviva
Sharon Wilkins	...	Mama Sunshine Aviva
Alexander Brickel	...	Peter Paul
Ashleigh Hertzig	...	Barbara
Risa Jaz Rifkind	...	Trixie
Dontae Huey	...	Shazaam
Debra Monk	...	Mama Sunshine
Walter Bobbie	...	Bo Sunshine
Tyler Maynard	...	Jiminy
Courtney Walcott	...	Crystal
Joshua Eber	...	Skippy
Khush Kirpalani	...	Ali
Sydney Matuszak	...	Ell
David Castro	...	Carlito
Richard Riehle	...	Dr. Dan
Shayna Levine	...	'Bob' Aviva
Ebrahim Jaffer	...	Motel clerk
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	'Mark' Aviva
Andrea Demosthenes	...	Gwyneth's mom
John Gemberling	...	Second Judah
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maggie Moore	...	Christian Narrator (voice)
Ricky Ashley	...	(uncredited)
Frank L. Goodyear	...	Abortion Clinic Protester (uncredited)

Directed by
Todd Solondz

Writing credits
Todd Solondz		(written by)

Produced by
Timothy Bird	....	associate producer
Mike S. Ryan	....	producer
Derrick Tseng	....	producer

Original Music by
Nathan Larson

Cinematography by
Tom Richmond

Film Editing by
Mollie Goldstein
Kevin Messman

Casting by
Ann Goulder
Addison McQuigg

Production Design by
David Doernberg

Set Decoration by
Sara Parks

Costume Design by
Victoria Farrell

Makeup Department
Elizabeth Daley	....	makeup artist assistant
Karl Giant	....	hair stylist
Karl Giant	....	makeup artist
Arsen Gurgov	....	hair stylist: Ellen Barkin
Kabuki	....	key hair stylist
Kabuki	....	key makeup artist
Tania Ribalow	....	makeup artist: Ellen Barkin

Production Management
Christopher Edwards	....	post-production supervisor
Cherry Montejo	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Heather Grierson	....	first assistant director
Keith Jones	....	second assistant director
Sanford McCoy	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Jesse Cain	....	leadman
Molly Page	....	set dresser
Nick Patnaude	....	prop assistant
Josephine Shokrian	....	set dresser
Inbal Weinberg	....	art department coordinator
Scott Zweizen	....	property master

Sound Department
Dominic Bartolini	....	foley engineer
Jerry Cox	....	additional sound mixer
Christof Gebert	....	dialog editor
Christof Gebert	....	production sound mixer
Eric Milano	....	foley artist
Eric Offin	....	supervising sound editor
Tom Paul	....	sound re-recording mixer
Daniel Perlin	....	sound effects designer
Brion Regan	....	boom operator
Brion Regan	....	foley artist
Brion Regan	....	sound effects editor
Paul Sacco	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Jinmo Yang	....	sound assistant
Mark Garcia	....	additional sound designer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Peter Kunz	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Luke DiTommaso	....	visual effects
Jennifer Russomanno	....	title designer
Jason Stoff	....	title designer
Keith Yurevitz	....	visual effects
Charlie Kirby	....	MTI artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator
Jeff Ward	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Wylda Bayron	....	second assistant camera
Nicola Benizzi	....	second assistant camera
Kip Bogdahn	....	camera operator: second camera
Oliver Cary	....	additional first assistant camera
Tony Cohen	....	grip
Russell Drake	....	third electrician
Eddie Lee Flandez	....	additional electrician
Avra Fox	....	best boy electric
Connor Gaudet	....	grip
Matthew H. Giordano	....	grip (as Matt Giordano)
Melissa Guimaraes	....	key grip
Matthew Hale	....	gaffer
Andrew B. Hansen	....	additional gaffer
Carlos Haynes	....	electrician
Steve Huber	....	additional gaffer
Arianna Lapenne	....	camera loader
Jody Lee Lipes	....	electrician
Marcus Lehmann	....	best boy electric
Mike Morini	....	grip
Kit Pennebaker	....	camera loader
Macall B. Polay	....	still photographer
Craig Pressgrove	....	first assistant camera
Ross Sebek	....	first assistant camera
Linda Slater	....	second assistant camera
George Su	....	additional grip
Justin Whitaker	....	best boy electric
Toshiro Yamaguchi	....	additional first assistant camera

Animation Department
Sarah Blank	....	animator (as Sarah Birns)

Casting Department
Anna Bohichik	....	extras casting assistant
Julie Schubert	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nancy Deihl	....	wardrobe assistant
Cindy DiPrima	....	costumer
Maya Fineberg	....	costumer
Jennifer Jones	....	wardrobe assistant
Catherine Osborne	....	additional wardrobe supervisor
Michelle Elaine Teague	....	costume assistant
Antonia Xereas	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Chad Beck	....	assistant editor
Steve Calalang	....	dailies colorist
Minnea Lin	....	assistant editor
Dan O'Grady	....	negative cutter
Julie O'Grady	....	negative cutter
David Pultz	....	color timer

Music Department
Garth Bardsley	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
Jonathan Ameli	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Sue Yeon Ahn	....	production assistant
Patricia Almeida	....	dog trainer
Alex Cannon	....	office production assistant
Yale Chasin	....	assistant production coordinator
Ben Cresciman	....	location assistant
Shannon Dennard	....	location coordinator
Hope Dickson Leach	....	assistant to director
Luke DiTommaso	....	title designer
Payton Dunham	....	location manager
Lance Edmands	....	assistant to producers
Adam Nathaniel Greene	....	production assistant
Carlos Haynes	....	production assistant
Jaime Iglehart	....	office production assistant
Markus Janner	....	title designer
K.E. Johnson	....	location assistant
Nat Livingston Johnson	....	craft service (as Nathaniel Johnson)
Dan Knechtges	....	choreographer
Albert Krause	....	production accountant
Ken Kristensen	....	assistant location manager
James Luce	....	film runner
Andrew Lush	....	office production assistant
Cherry Montejo	....	production office coordinator
Cate Nelson	....	production assistant
John Nickel	....	script supervisor
Jean Pesce	....	location assistant
Jennifer Russomanno	....	title designer
Kristy Ryan	....	promotions manager: Australia
Dukyoung Song	....	assistant production coordinator
Katie Stern	....	product placement and clearances
Katie Stern	....	production assistant
Jason Stoff	....	title designer
José Tejada	....	parking coordinator (as Jose Tejada)
Alicia Van Couvering	....	assistant to producers
Loretta Wallace	....	production assistant
Barbara Whan	....	dog trainer
Keith Yurevitz	....	title designer

Production Companies

• Extra Large Pictures

Distributors

• Albatros Film (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Bio Rex Distribution (2006) (Finland) (theatrical) (DVD)
• Diaphana Films (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• THINKFilm (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Vértigo Films (2005) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Wellspring Media (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alamode Film (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Dolmen Home Video (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
• Fox Lorber (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2005) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Du Art Digital  titles and opticals
• Final Frame  post-production facilities
• J.G. Films  negative matching
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity
• Ovasen Post Production  post-production services and facilities
• Ovasen  post-production services and facilities
• Tandem Sound  sound post-production

Also Known As:

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hebrew

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-15 | New Zealand:R18 | Germany:12 | Singapore:M18 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Hungary:16 | Italy:VM14 (video rating) | Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:16 | Japan:R-15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:Not Rated | Australia:R

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Extra Large Pictures

Trivia:

The names of the characters Aviva, Bob, and Otto are all palindromes - as per the title of the film.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The film takes place in New Jersey, yet in one of the hitch-hiking scenes we see a road sign for US Route 3, which in reality is located in New Hampshire. To make matters worse, in the background of the same scenes we see directional signs for "Ellenville" and "Route 199", which reveals the actual filming location of Kingston, NY.

Quotes:

Mark Wiener:People always end up the way they started out. No one ever changes. They think they do but they don't. If you're the depressed type now that's the way you'll always be. If you're the mindless happy type now, that's the way you'll be when you grow up. You might lose some weight, your face may clear up, get a body tan, breast enlargement, a sex change, it makes no difference. Essentially, from in front, from behind. Whether you're 13 or 50, you will always be the same.
'Mark' Aviva Victor:Are you the same?
Mark Wiener:Yeah.
'Mark' Aviva Victor:Are you glad you're the same?
Mark Wiener:It doesn't matter if I'm glad. There's no freewill. I mean, I have no choice but to chose what I choose, to do as I do, to live as I live. Ultimately, we're all just robots programmed abritrarily by nature's genetic code
'Mark' Aviva Victor:Isn't there any hope?
Mark Wiener:For what? We hope or despair because of the way we've been programmed. Genes and randomness, that's all there is and none of it matters.
'Mark' Aviva Victor:Does that mean you're never going get married and have children?
Mark Wiener:I have no anent desire to get married or have kids. But that's beyond my control. Really, it makes no difference. Since the planet's fast running out of natural resources and we won't make it into the next century.
'Mark' Aviva Victor:What if you're wrong? What if there is a God?
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Lovers of the Arctic Circle (1998)

Soundtrack:

Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Major, Op. 23

Remember it's only a film . . .

Palindromes is a film that is set to shock. The themes – abortion, child abuse, Christian fundamentalism, teenage pregnancy – are red rags generally too much at for TV soap operas, or comedy shows like The Office - yet apart from it's x-rated material, Palindromes has a certain amount in common with both of these genres.

In terms of film-making, it is fairly innovative in technique, although audiences who have tired of director Todd Solondz's previous offerings (which include 'Storytelling' and 'Happiness') may say it is more of the same thing. A central new twist with Palindromes is that the central character – a twelve/thirteen year old girl – is played quite convincingly by a wide array of characters that are physically very different (black/white, obese/skinny, young/old, and in one incarnation even a young boy). They all have an eerie likeness and it is a credit to Solondz that, even without being warned of the device, audiences have barely a second's hesitation in linking up that it is the same person.

Aviva (her name is palindromic - spelt the same forwards or backwards) is 12 or 13 years old but has a very strong desire to have a baby. This is presented as quite a core issue with her, rather than a passing whim. Her mother reels between hysterical intolerance and forceful supportiveness, trying to be a 'good mother', feeling inadequate at the job, and making strident attempts to steer her wayward daughter. When Aviva first expresses her wish it's along the lines of wanting lots of babies so she will always have someone to love (she is a sweet and lovable, slightly chubby, black child and the wish is not taken to mean immediate action at this point). When she makes fumbling attempts to realise her aim with a boy about the same age she knows, we start feeling worried, even though the scene is trivialised and offered as humour. Solondz repeatedly tempts us to laugh at or with the characters during tragically gruesome scenes and then feel guilty about it. Aviva doesn't give up, even when we know her quest has become impossible.

One of the ways we test a proposition is to say, 'what are the exceptions'? Does it apply under all conditions? An Internet psychology test used rapid responses to demonstrate that, even people who think they are not racially prejudiced, still instinctively tend to view black people differently. We have innate prejudices about colour, gender, age, size/obesity that are not easy to overcome. Palindromes, by taking one character and showing her in many physical forms, makes us ask ourselves if we think differently about her situation when we give her a different physical form. If we feel sorry for her in one incarnation but less so (or more so) when her physical appearance is changed, what does that say about us? Similarly, if we make a judgement about a person, or about what is 'best' for a person, would it be the same if we could see into the future or different futures? The film's apparent premise (stated within the movie) is that we are always the same, we can't change, even though we grow older, may have a boob job or sex change, we are fated to be the same person – we always come back to being who we are (a bit like a palindrome, that is spelt the same whether read left to right or right to left). 'How many times can I be born again?' screams a lapsed 'born-again' paedophile later in the movie. Is a person really fated to not be able to change? What might be truer would be to say that it takes a lot for people to change, to overcome natural hubris and unchanging habit – if we are each individually a product of our genes, our environment and our inner will (or 'soul' for religious people), then real change has to be not just more than skin deep but deep enough to overcome external influences and predispositions. (When watching Palindromes, look out for the Wizard of Oz references!) But ultimately Solondz neither philosophises nor moralises – he simply observes. That he observes such controversial, dilemma-ridden and offensive subject matter may provoke constructive thought in some (especially if you think he does it in a caring way) but derision in others. His pessimism is tempered by the fact that he gets away with it – quips Solandz - "It says something good about mankind and people's discretion that when I walk in the street to pick up my groceries nobody has assaulted me."