JANE

US, 2021, 83 minutes, Colour.

Madelaine Petsch, Melissa Leo, Chloe Bailey, Kerry Medders, Nina Bloomgarden, Ian Owens, Victoria Foyt.

Directed by Sabrina Jaglom.

20 years ago with the very popular comedy, Mean Girls, this gave the title to this kind of film where high school students, especially girls, are harsh towards each other, bullying. And, of course, in the 2020s, there is cyber bullying. This is a brief film, focusing on two girls and their bullying, the consequences, although the consequences are not as moralising as would be expected.

The film has been cowritten and directed by Sabrina Jaglom, daughter of prolific and somewhat avant-garde director, Henry Jaglom. And her mother, Victoria Foyt, appears as the persecuted teacher, Mrs West.

The Jane of the title commits suicide at the opening of the film. This has an effect on her classmates at the private school, led by the principal, a more sympathetic role for Melissa Leo. But, the suicide has a very powerful effect on one of her friends, Olivia (Madeleine Petsch), a star pupil, sweet at home with her loving and supportive parents, captain of the debating team, articulate in her speeches and arguments. She is relied on by the debating teacher, Mr Richardson.

Jane has had a strong influence on Olivia – and will begin to appear to Olivia during the action of the film, a kind of projection of what Olivia is thinking and feeling herself, and violently doing.

Real trouble begins when the debating teacher brings in a student from an East Coast school, suggesting that there be co-captaincy of the debating team. Olivia is violent, faints – something she does when the situation overpowers her. She is ambitious to get into Stanford but gets a letter to say that her entry is deferred – sending her into further collapse. And she is suspicious of the newcomer as Well Is various students in the school.

She teams up with a friend of Jane, close to her in the past but now forming again the friendship, Izzy (Chloe Bailey). Izzy is up for mischief and then teams up with Olivia, especially using Jane’s uniclosed online platform, causing mayhem in the classroom forcing Mrs West to be violent and her being expelled from the school. Then, with computer malice, exposing various girls to ridicule. There is also a visit to a party, with a particular target, drugs ingested and her collapse.

Olivia sails on her merry way, insinuating herself into the debating team again, becoming captain, her team winning. She is able to answer all the questions when the principal interrogates her. However, Izzy becomes suspicious, challenging, leading to a confrontation in a swimming pool with Olivia drowning her friend.

But, while we see Olivia’s mental condition and collapse, and her telling everyone that she wants to study mental health, and getting into Stanford, she sails on her merry way, images of Jane appearing to her. And, of course, this makes Jane open to a sequel to see more of Olivia’s mayhem.