Things Behind the Sun
| Things Behind the Sun | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Allison Anders |
| Written by | Allison Anders Kurt Voss |
| Produced by | Robin Alper Daniel Hassid Doug Mankoff |
| Starring | Kim Dickens Gabriel Mann Don Cheadle |
| Cinematography | Terry Stacey |
| Edited by | Chris Figler |
| Music by | Sonic Youth |
Production company | Echo Lake Productions |
| Distributed by | Behind The Sun Productions LLC Showtime(TV) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Things Behind the Sunis a 2001dramafilm directed byAllison Andersand starringKim DickensandGabriel Mann.It premiered at the2001 Sundance Film Festivaland was later aired on television byShowtimeon August 18, 2001.[1]The film is based on an early adolescent experience of Anders’.[2]Its title is taken from a song byNick Drake.
The film was honored with thePeabody Awardin 2002.
Plot
[edit]Owen, a young reporter for a Los Angeles-basedmusic magazine,returns to his Florida hometown to interview Sherry, a local rock singer. Sherry and her band are becoming increasingly popular, largely because of a song she wrote about being raped as a girl; this song has become a hit on college radio. Owen's reasons for returning to his hometown are more than professional, however: he and Sherry were close friends in childhood. He is also aware of the identity of her rapists, as the ringleader was his brother Dan. Through flashbacks, Owen recalls his complicity in the gang-rapes that his brother Dan and his friends perpetrated on many girls. Whenever he would hear someone being forced into Dan's room, which was adjacent to his own, he would block out the noise with music.
It is later revealed that Sherry had come to Owen's house on the day of her rape to give him a mixtape. Owen resorted to his usual tactic of trying to ignore what was happening, but he was dragged out of his room and forced to participate in her gang-rape. He tells Sherry that he didn't even know it was her until it was over.
Owen informs his brother Dan that he sent the details of Sherry's rape, including his own role in the crime, to Dan's parole officer and to his own editor. Owen also informs him that he has found some of the twelve girls who were raped, and they are willing to testify against Dan to the parole board. Dan will never be able to leave prison. When Dan vehemently asks why Owen is doing this, Owen replies that he loved Sherry.
Cast
[edit]- Kim Dickensas Sherry McGrale
- Brittany Renee Finamore as young Sherry
- Gabriel Mannas Owen
- Owen Butler as young Owen
- Don Cheadleas Chuck
- Rosanna Arquetteas Pete
- Alison Follandas Lulu
- CCH Pounderas Judge
- Eric Stoltzas Dan
- Justin de Prume as young Dan
- Elizabeth Peñaas Carmen
- Shawn Reavesas Tex
- Patsy Kensitas Denise
Production
[edit]Anders based the film on her own experience as a young girl.[2]Anders said she had tried to deal with her rape at age twelve "in therapy, through acting out sexually, through self-medication… by every means possible, but I still was in a dark place."[2]The film was shot ondigital video.[3]This is Anders' third film to center on music industry figures, afterGrace of My HeartandSugar Town.[4]
Music
[edit]Rock bandSonic Youthprovided the film's score. Several hits from 1960s bandThe Left Bankeare also featured.[5]Kristen Vigardprovided Kim Dickens' singing voice.[5]
Reception
[edit]Release
[edit]The film premiered January 24, 2001 at theSundance Film Festival.[5]It was also screened at theLos Angeles Film Festivalon April 28, 2001 and at theKarlovy Vary Film Festivalon July 7, 2001.[6]Though Anders got an offer for theatrical distribution, the film was released on Showtime.[7]Of its TV airing, Anders said the advantage would be "millions of people will see [the] movie as opposed to what you’ll usually get on an indie theatrical release."[3]
Critical reception
[edit]On review aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes,Things Behind the Sunhas a 100%approval rating,with an average rating of 7.10/10 based on 12 reviews.[8]
Critics praised Anders' unsentimental, understated approach to her subject and the film's performances.[9][1]David Rooney ofVarietywrote, "Playing a character prone to drinking binges and out-of-control behavior, [Kim Dickens] nonetheless conveys the woman’s pain, anger and tragic vulnerability in quietly measured terms that make her performance all the more affecting."[5]InThe A.V. Club,Nathan Rabinwrote Don Cheadle "invests the seemingly thankless role of Dickens' manager, protector, and long-suffering semi-boyfriend with pathos and gravity."[4]
Rooney added, "Anders’ primary theme is the need to return to the past and unearth suppressed memories in order for healing to begin. While this is standardmovie-of-the-weekfodder, the raw treatment and controlled intensity here set it apart, as does the extension of the film’s gaze beyond the rape victim. "[5]In a positive review, criticEmanuel Levywrote "the duality ofP.O.V.,showing the rape and its ruinous consequences from [various points of view]...endows the film with a unique angle seldom seen before. "[10]Writing forFilmCritic.com,Rachel Gordon said the film "adheres to a perspective important for both men and women to see," and that "what setsThings Behind the Sunapart from such [films such asThe Accused] is that it takes these stories one step further, to the severe aftermath of living with these memories years later. "[11]
The film's music was also praised, with Rooney noting "the songs here serve to show the powerful effect music can have on people, as comfort, release, therapy, memory, escape or as a point of connection."[5][2]Some criticisms of the film were of the ending, with some saying it wraps things up too tidily, as well as of the dialogue.[5][10]Jonathan Foremanof theNew York Postsaid these flaws were minor, however, and wrote, it's "rawly personal, and in the way it confronts the sexual aftershocks of the crime – on both victim and perpetrator – it’s a film of remarkable honesty and courage."[12]
Awards and nominations
[edit]The film won thePeabody Awardin 2002 for its exploration oftrauma.[13]It was also nominated for anIndependent Spirit Award for Best Feature,as well asBest Female Leadfor Kim Dickens.[14]Don Cheadle was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award forBest Supporting Maleand anEmmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.[15]The film was nominated for Best Television Feature or Miniseries at theEdgar Allan Poe Awards.
Home media
[edit]Things Behind the Sunwas released on DVD on April 8, 2003.[16]It contained anaudio commentarytrack from Anders, co-writer Kurt Voss, and producer Daniel Hassid.
References
[edit]- ^ab"Things Behind The Sun | TV Guide".TVGuide.com.RetrievedMarch 2,2019.
- ^abcdLeonard, John(August 20, 2001)."Unforgettable".New York.Archivedfrom the original on August 8, 2016.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
- ^abJacobson, Sarah(August 17, 2001)."INTERVIEW: Here Comes" the Sun "; Allison Anders Out of the Past".IndieWire.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
- ^abRabin, Nathan(March 29, 2002)."Things Behind The Sun".The A.V. Club.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
- ^abcdefgRooney, David (January 29, 2001)."Things Behind The Sun".Variety.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
- ^"KVIFF | Things Behind the Sun".www.kviff.com.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
- ^"DAILY NEWS: Anders Film to Showtime; Sundance (Online) Winner; and Santa Barbara Indies".IndieWire.March 19, 2001.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
- ^"Things Behind the Sun (2001)".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedFebruary 13,2022.
- ^Freeman, Phil (August 12, 2001)."Things Behind the Sun".CultureVulture.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
- ^abLevy, Emanuel (February 7, 2006)."Things Behind the Sun (2001)".emanuellevy.com.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
- ^Gordon, Rachel (October 11, 2001)."Things Behind the Sun".Filmsite.RetrievedOctober 9,2022– via Contactmusic.com.
- ^Foreman, Jonathan(October 12, 2001)."Crime and Raw Courage".New York Post.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
- ^"Things Behind the Sun".Peabody Awards.
- ^Munoz, Lorenza (January 9, 2002)."Spirit Awards tilt toward true independence".The Baltimore Sun.Archived fromthe originalon October 20, 2019.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
- ^"Things Behind The Sun".Television Academy.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
- ^"Things Behind the Sun [DVD]".Amazon.April 8, 2003.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.