OUTSIDE IN
US, 2017, 109 minutes, Colour.
Edie Falco, Jay Duplass, Kaitlyn Dever, Ben Schwartz, Stephen Leggett,
Directed by Lynn Shelton.
An arresting title – indicating feeling of prison experience while one is outside the prison.
This is a very effective small, independent film, written by the director Lynn Shelton along with star, J Duplass (who often works, especially in producing, with his brother, Mark Duplass).
Duke Glass portrays Charlie, getting out of prison after 19 years, returning to his hometown of his family who have not been particularly interested in him while in prison. However, his teacher, Carol (Edie Falco) has worked for some years preparing documents for his release.
We have a very effective of a man someone at a loss, who is age from 20 to 40 in prison. He looks for jobs, meets up with his brother, is infatuated with Carol whose marriage is breaking down and her wanting to do something even well worthwhile. There is also the teenage daughter played by a blend Dever (book smart).
The film builds its impact rather slowly and steadily, even quietly, but by the end of the film captures the experience with Charlie, Carol and her search was not something more, and life in a quiet American town.
1. The title, inside prison life, out? And people imprisoned in the outside life?
2. Washington State, Granite Falls, the town and its look, the streets, the Rockies in the background? Homes, sheds, school, clubs? The feel of the town? The musical score?
3. Chris’s story, the past, aged 20, the killing, his being a bystander, becoming involved, sentenced to 20 years? The background of his family, the few visits and interest while he was in prison? The contrast with Carol, his past teacher, the phone calls each week, her taking up his course, getting the documents, boxes of them, his release?
4. Chris and his return, meeting his brother, tension between them, the party, all the relatives? His going to see his parole officer, conditions? His apartment? Work applications? Going to see old friends – and the preoccupation with their children?
5. Chris has a character, personality, pleasant, his hopes, reliance on Carol, the affection?
6. Carol, her age, her life, skill as a teacher, her social concerns? The loss of love between herself and her husband delete shared with the paper strains, his slack attitudes, his expectations of her and the marriage? Hildy, her age, ignoring her mother? Discussions in the family, her frustration?
7. Chris, issues of sexuality, his brother’s girlfriend and her teasing him with her foot? His reaction? Meeting Hildy, affection for her, their talking, inviting, her room and the decorations with the paper strips? Taking her to the party, drinking, sharing his life story with her?
8. Carol’s life at school, teaching the children well, Russell and the staff in the common room, the support?
9. Carol, her reaction to Chris going out, Tom’s reaction? Chris and his proposal that he and Carol go out, for the night, the going to the club, the dancing, the confiding, the return, the buildup to the sexual encounter, hesitance, yet the impact from Carol helping him? The morning after, Tom and his attack, Hildy seeing what was going on, Carol and her apology to Hildy?
10. The effect on Carol, keeping her distance, Tom moving out of the home, the searching for Hildy and asking Chris, finding the rooms with the coloured strips? Talking with her daughter, the daughter going to college?
11. Chris, and ordinary life, with the job, Carol talking with him, his wanting an ordinary life, she wanting to branch out? The film ending there – and leaving speculations for the audience?
12. The theme of the title, imprisonment of all kinds? Freedom of all kinds?
