American Fable

This movie was pretty good! it was filmed really beautifully and the acting from the main character Giddy was executed really well. It was also told from her point of view which was really interesting. I don't know why most people from this movie hard to follow, i found it really straight forward. It's worth a watch.

American Fable is set in the mid west of Reagan's 1980s America where some farmers were financially hard hit, heading for bankruptcy with their land being bought up by investors.

Gitty (Peyton Kennedy) is an eleven year old girl living with her dad Abe (Kip Pardue) who is struggling farmer, mother Sarah (Marci Miller) who is pregnant and older brother Martin (Gavin MacIntosh) who is hostile, bully and a borderline psycho, just see the way he nearly chopped her hand off.

Gitty lives a care free rural life, she may not have many friends but she has a pet chicken and her own fantasy world. One day in an out of bounds silo in the far reaches of their family farm, Gitty finds a businessman Jonathan (Richard Schiff) being held captive. Gitty feeds him, brings him books to read. He tells her stories and even teaches her to play chess. Obviously Richard is befriending her so she can help him escape but he appears to be genuine enough.

It seems her dad, mum and brother are in league with a mysterious woman called Vera, who wants the farmers to fight back against these rich developers. Gitty is in a dilemma whether to free Jonathan and put her family at risk of arrest.

The film wants to be a fable, you have various tales being told, a fantasy sequence but it is not wholly coherent. The film reaches an urgency at the climax but you really are left thinking as to how this crazy brother has not yet been institutionalised.

The film benefits from wonderful photography even the night scenes are well utilised but the film is under-cooked.

I find it strange but mostly harsh to read so many one star reviews for a movie that was entertaining from beginning till the end. I agree that the end could have been better explained but overall it's still much better than any of those negative reviewers want you to believe. The story is about friendship and compassion, not so much a thriller (I wouldn't have categorized it in that genre), but more as a drama with some decent actors, especially the twelve year old Peyton Kennedy. I wouldn't listen too much to the negative reviewers, just watch it and make your own conclusion, I'm sure you'll find it better than those pathetic one star reviews (I guess those people only watch a movie once a month or so).

Really loved this movie. Have to admit that much of what I liked about the film is visual; it's really visually stunning. I think the (director? idk who does this part but...) scenic vistas of farmland are meant to cause a yearning, a pull, an ache for things to be "right" and "good" and "just." Especially beautiful because these vistas are always shown in twilight of the morning or evening; something so quiet and reverent, something so pure and almost holy about it. Like innocence about to be shattered somehow. You find yourself cheering for "Gitty," the main character; a brave young girl whose conscience is more developed (sadly perhaps) than those of the adults in her life. Don't want to give anything away because it's too enjoyable to watch without knowing what happens, but just to say that the allegories of "fables" is sort of woven into the plot, and it reminded me a bit of "Spirited Away," where a young girl has to be brave and have courage and character to be victorious.

We're living in country very reminiscent of the film's location, so there was a heightened appeal to the scenery for us, but honestly, this movie rises far above the attractiveness of its setting. It's a little unusual in that a major part of the drama hangs on the relationship between the father and daughter who greatly resemble each other. I found then both easy to listen to and watch. Both actors do a great job in their roles and they carry most of the picture with substantial help from this first time director who tells her story very effectively.

I've read criticism of the plot and the non-resolution of various issues brought up, but as one who needs murder mysteries and spy dramas to make perfect sense, a story mostly from a child's point of view set on a farm doesn't have to come together like a puzzle. I enjoyed this film and look forward to more from this interesting director.