The titular Sue is down for the count. She lives in Manhattan, but is out of work, and three months behind in her
rent. Her landlord is about out of patience, especially since her rent is
grandfathered at a low rate. We see her at the occasional job interview, where
she is pathetically eager but, despite a masters degree in
psychology from Columbia and many years experience in a law office, seems to
be nearly unemployable. As she says, she only communicates using sex, and as
a very lonely person, tries to communicate a lot. She picks up a freelance
writer, Matthew Powers, in a restaurant, and he seems to be her salvation
until he takes a job assignment out of the country. Then there is no hope
for her.
This is a searing 1997 portrait of a disenfranchised woman who is too demoralized to recover even
when help is offered. I found it far better than the plot
summary makes it sound. Sue is made into a brilliant film by a vulnerable performance
from Anna
Levine Thomson in the title role. She manages to turn a slutty loser into a
sympathetic character who involves the audience in her life. Rather than being
repulsed be her, you want to reach out to her.
Anna is best known in the States for small but memorable turns in Unforgiven and The
Crow, but became such a sensation in France after this film that she
moved there to pursue her career, and starred in several more films with the same
writer/director (Amos Kollek).
- Sue (1997) 7.1/10
- Fiona (1998) 6.4/10
- Fast Food Fast Women
(2000) 6.4/10
- Bridget (2002) 5.7/10
Here is an
interview with Anna Thomson in which she discusses her career, focusing
particular attention on her portrayal of Sue.
Kollek, known for books as well as films, is the son of Teddy Kollek,
the legendary long-time (1965 to 1993) mayor of Jerusalem who died about a month
ago. (Written in January 2007).
