Stockholm, Pennsylvania
Stockholm, Pennsylvania is a 2015 drama film directed by Nikole Beckwith. The film premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. It is Beckwith's directorial and film-writing debut. The screenplay was awarded the 2012 Nicholl Fellowship from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[1]
It was produced by Greg Ammon, Leslie Urdang and Dan Halsted with the studio Fido Features. The story was acquired by Lifetime on March 26, 2015, and made its television premiere on May 2, 2015.[2] The film is edited by Joe Klotz.
Plot
Leanne Dargon (Saoirse Ronan as an adult) is kidnapped at age 4 by Ben McKay (Jason Isaacs), who confines her to his basement and renames her Leia. She is reunited with her parents, Marcy and Glen Dargon (Cynthia Nixon and David Warshofsky) after 17 years. Suffering from Stockholm syndrome, Leia still sees Ben as her father, and sees two strangers in her biological parents. As time passes, though, Marcy becomes the unstable one, throwing Glen out of the house, locking Leia up and controlling her every action. In the end, Leia escapes the captivity and vows to make a life of her own.
Cast
- Saoirse Ronan as Leia Dargon
- Hana Hayes, Leia, aged 12
- Cynthia Nixon as Marcy Dargon
- David Warshofsky as Glen Dargon
- Jason Isaacs as Ben McKay
- Rosalind Chao as Dr. Andrews
Reception
The film received mixed reviews, critics comparing the second half unfavorably with the first. Indiewire's Rodrigo Perez wrote in his review that "the tone-deaf misjudgment of the film’s second half is catastrophic; a bafflingly ill-advised blunder that “Stockholm, Pennsylvania” never recovers from".[3]
References
- Kamen, Tory. "Sundance Women Directors: Meet Nikole Beckwith – 'Stockholm, Pennsylvania'". Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- Kelley, Seth. "Lifetime Acquires Sundance Fest Title 'Stockholm, Pennsylvania' Starring Saoirse Ronan". Variety. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- Perez, Rodrigo. "Sundance Review: 'Stockholm, Pennsylvania' Starring Saoirse Ronan & Cynthia Nixon". Indiewire.com. Retrieved 29 January 2015.