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American Woman

  • 2019
  • R
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
350
YOUR RATING
Sarah Gadon and Hong Chau in American Woman (2019)
Inspired by the headline-dominating kidnapping of heiress Patty Hearst in 1974, this atmospheric drama is a fictionalized re-imagining of her time in hiding, from the perspective of Jenny, a political activist assigned to take care of her.
Play trailer1:47
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Drama

Inspired by the headline-dominating kidnapping of heiress Patty Hearst in 1974, this atmospheric drama is a fictionalized re-imagining of her time in hiding, from the perspective of Jenny, a... Read allInspired by the headline-dominating kidnapping of heiress Patty Hearst in 1974, this atmospheric drama is a fictionalized re-imagining of her time in hiding, from the perspective of Jenny, a political activist assigned to take care of her.Inspired by the headline-dominating kidnapping of heiress Patty Hearst in 1974, this atmospheric drama is a fictionalized re-imagining of her time in hiding, from the perspective of Jenny, a political activist assigned to take care of her.

  • Director
    • Semi Chellas
  • Writers
    • Semi Chellas
    • Susan Choi
  • Stars
    • Hong Chau
    • Sarah Gadon
    • John Gallagher Jr.
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.1/10
    350
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Semi Chellas
    • Writers
      • Semi Chellas
      • Susan Choi
    • Stars
      • Hong Chau
      • Sarah Gadon
      • John Gallagher Jr.
    • 5User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:47
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    Photos

    American Woman (2019)
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    Top cast

    Edit
    Hong Chau
    Hong Chau
    • Jenny
    Sarah Gadon
    Sarah Gadon
    • Pauline
    John Gallagher Jr.
    John Gallagher Jr.
    • Juan
    Lola Kirke
    Lola Kirke
    • Yvonne
    Ellen Burstyn
    Ellen Burstyn
    • Miss Dolly
    David Cubitt
    David Cubitt
    • Agent John Spivey
    Jordan Pettle
    Jordan Pettle
    • Rob Frazier
    Richard Walters
    Richard Walters
    • Thomas
    Shawn Doyle
    Shawn Doyle
    • Cowboy
    Brandon Oakes
    Brandon Oakes
    • Bartender
    Don McKellar
    Don McKellar
    • Newscaster 1
    • (voice)
    Dan Duran
    • Newscaster 2
    • (voice)
    Zachary Bennett
    Zachary Bennett
    • Young Lawyer
    Alicia Richardson
    Alicia Richardson
    • Sandy
    Brendan McMurtry-Howlett
    • Evan
    Dylan House
    Dylan House
    • Michael
    Greg Campbell
    Greg Campbell
    • Mr. Morton
    Philip Riccio
    Philip Riccio
    • Sales Clerk
    • Director
      • Semi Chellas
    • Writers
      • Semi Chellas
      • Susan Choi
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Featured in 2020 Canadian Screen Awards for Cinematic Arts (2020)

    User reviews5

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    ON THE LAM
    1974, post flower power America was rocked by the confounding, headline hogging tale of billionaire daughter turned radical revolutionary Patty Hearst. Her Che Guevera pose in front of the Symbionese Liberation Flag, totally rocking a chic beret, army fatigues and machine gun, became the poster of choice for anti fascist revolutionaries. The evocative, is she or isn't she? Stockholm syndrome question death gripped an ogling Nation.

    Great story, perfect movie fodder, except here it merely serves as a background of events for an equally complex character, that of Wendy Yoshimura, herself a committed (non-violent) revolutionary, Patty babysitter, and as it turns out a future water colour artist.

    Sure sure, the names have been changed - to Jenny and Pauline, but this fictionalized herstory follows actual events quite closely. Focusing on a rational, dedicated and idealistic member of an inflammatory group speeding towards the flame, Jenny is as intriguing a character as the confused ex-debutante. A child of war internment camps, relegated to stereotypical servant duties that American Asians suffered through, an expert bomber, and regularly dismissed as gender inferior by chest-inflating men, Jenny is a stoic tower of strength and methodically fights through some crazy crap to get things done.

    Shot in seventies California browns, and acted to pinpoint perfection by Hong Chau (Ellen Burstyn is also divine), "American Woman" captures the pulse (sometimes racing, sometimes not) of an exhilarating and convoluted time when everything seemed to be on the table, by glimpsing the frustrations, hardships, and drudgery, among the idealism clashes of off the grid non-citizens.

    Less focused on gunplay and the sensationalized rebel life, "American Woman" deals with the inner conflicts of a diverse group on the verge of combustion, creating a quiet sense of tension in their daily, on the lam life. Viewers expecting bombast, cookie cutter action and punchy plot, will be disappointed. This is a nuance film. A slow burn. A thinker. A mood piece. And probably closer to the truth than most people would hope for.

    • hipCRANK
    helpful•11
    7
    • js-66130
    • Jun 30, 2020

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 15, 2020 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Американка
    • Production companies
      • AW Canada Films
      • First Generation Films
      • Killer Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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