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Overview

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Palindromes, 2004

Starring: Ellen Barkin, Debra Monk, Stephen Adly Guirgis

Directed by: Todd Solondz

Written by: Todd Solondz

Language: English, Hebrew

Country: USA

Runtime: 100 min

MPAA Rating:

Rating:6.8

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Profile of Palindromes

The mood of Palindromes is cynical, bleak, and clever. The plot centers around , a dysfunctional family, and family problems. It features satire and irreverent humor. Palindromes is a drama, comedy, and independent movie. Stylistically, it is surreal and stars a strong female character. In approach, it is realistic. The pacing of Palindromes is slow. It takes place, at least partly, in the suburbs. The setting is Kansas and New Jersey. Palindromes happens in contemporary times.

Summary of Palindromes

With PALINDROMES, fiercely independent writer-director Todd Solondz (HAPPINESS, STORYTELLING) places the topic of abortion under his scathing microscope. This time around, Solondz takes an even more daring approach by casting seven different actors to play the film's lead role. Aviva Victor is the young New Jersey cousin of the recently deceased Dawn Wiener (the heroine from Solondz's Sundance-winning WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE). Living under the watchful eye of her overprotective parents Joyce (Ellen Barkin) and Steve (Richard Masur), Aviva dreams of the day when she will be able to call herself a mother--a wish that is prematurely granted after an adolescent tryst. Unfortunately, her parents will not allow her to have the baby under any circumstances, which causes Aviva to run away from home. On the road, she falls for a lonely trucker (Stephen Adly Guirgis) and winds up at the home of the ultra-evangelical Mama Sunshine (Debra Monk), who cares for a wide variety of disabled children. But when the trucker reappears and it becomes quite clear that the bond he shares with Aviva is not just some perverted fantasy, the relationship builds to its inevitably tragic conclusion. Solondz's biting satire is a bold statement in support of a mother's right to choose, but it also takes a surprisingly humane approach to those on the other side of the argument. Featuring standout performances by Barkin, Monk, and Guirgis, PALINDROMES makes a bold, powerful statement.

Details

Language:	English, Hebrew
Country:	USA
Release date:	3 September 2004
Runtime:	100 min

Cast and Crew See all

Ellen Barkin

as Joyce Victor

Debra Monk

as Mama Sunshine

Stephen Adly Guirgis

as Joe / Earl / Bob

Photos See all

Shayna Levine as Aviva and Stephen Adly Guirgis as Earl in Palindromes (2004)

Ellen Barkin as Joyce and Hannah Freiman as Aviva in Palindromes (2004)

Ellen Barkin as Joyce and Jennifer Jason Leigh as Aviva in Palindromes (2004)

Alexander Brickel as Peter Paul and Sharon Wilkins as Aviva in Palindromes (2004)

Clips See all

Palindromes: Theatrical

Critics Reviews See all

Los Angeles Times

As depressing as it is hard to watch, Palindromes is also consistently, horrifyingly funny and sharp-witted, and the darker and more well-observed its humor, the more it belies the director's unsentimental, even grudging empathy for his fellow DNA... Full Review

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by: Carina Chocano

The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

Palindromes is a cracked American picaresque. Full Review

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by: Stephen Cole

Users Reviews See all

wow, it took me half way through the movie to realize it was one story with different actors playing one person, at first i was thinking interesting, All in All the movie sucked in the long run. i don't know what else too tell you Read and rate it

04.June.2010
|
by: Erica
Erica rated this movie0/10

With this film, Solondz again makes his viewers squirm more than most suspense directors do. Many times, sometimes simultaneously, this movie is funny, odd, vulgar and horrifying. His main character, a girl named Aviva (get it a palindrome), and... Read and rate it

30.April.2009
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by: Patrick_Pogo
Patrick_Pogo rated this movie6/10Okay

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