American Fable

Lots of holes. #1...the 'prisoner" must stink to high heaven, living in that silo w/o toilet facilities or water. #2...Gitty, the 11 yr old can not possibly climb up and down a 50-75 foot silo on a rope. #3...how did Martin cut the 'prisoner's" finger? The man just willingly let him chop it off? Many other 'holes' make this movie a 1-star except for Peyton's acting, a dang good 8-star job she did. I don't recommend this.

It started out intriguing enough, then things get weird fast, lots of characters whose behavior makes little sense. The lady on the horse, 2 little playmates who just disappear from one frame to the next...maybe they were supposed to be imaginary? An older, increasingly psychotic brother, the former policewoman-turned-mailcarrier who is allowed to keep her marked patrol car to deliver mail from a different city (like, when does THAT ever happen?), long skinny ropes we're supposed to believe the little girl capable of climbing (if so, maybe she could've just found a sturdier rope for the captive to climb?) Skipping ahead to avoid real spoilers, we're supposed to believe that nobody takes the girl into foster care, she's left to fend for herself, dressing out a roadkill deer for sustenance. And then, a big black car rolls in, rich dude to the rescue...maybe? I'm left with more questions than answers. Usually, I would re-watch a movie like this to see what clues and "ah-ha" moments I missed; not this one. Could've been good, wasn't.

A thriller from a debutante writer, director. Obviously she did not get support from a big production house, but within the small scale, she has given a nice film. Of course, there were a few flaws. Particularly in the writing section. Overall, the film is very intriguing. The music, locations, performances supported the narration so well. This could be one of the under-noticed film, due to unfamiliar cast and crew. But surely a decent film. The story of a farmer family. In a small rural America, where farmers are surrendering to death for unable to pay back the loans, a 11 year old girl is not disturbed by the adult's way of life. Her best friend, a chicken named Happy, roam all over surrounding places. One day she finds a man trapped in her silo. They two becomes friends and help each others needs. But the girl never knew there's a complication behind meeting him. And when that breaks loose, drastically things changes and brings an end to the narration with a twist. The storyline was good, but kind of reminds 'Pan's Labyrinth'. This was more a thriller than a fantasy, yet a few scenes defines it could be influenced by fable as the title say. It had a philosophical touch too. The timeline of the tale was 1980s and in the eyes of adult, it is a perfect thriller that focused on the farmers' issue. But, since the story was narrated from the eyes of a kid, that's where magical perspective blooms. So the mix of both these things makes the film very special. -xX] Important people don't have to say they're important. [Xx- When it comes to the film's drawback, the curves of the storytelling, the scenes were not smoothened enough. I mean the ideas were awesome, but small-small thing had hard time to get away with a perfect blend. For example, the girl could have broken the door/lock from the outside or given foods and other items through the window, instead of climbing up. But the major parts of the film had nothing wrong and can be enjoyed. What it all says is the rookie mistake, but surely the filmmaker has talent and hoping her next one would be a top notch. The little girl was very impressive. It reminds many big stars of the present who once did such a wonderful film as a child artist. So I wish her future to be great. She was all over the film, the rest of the cast had little scope, but they all did good as well. Predicting the story is not hard, but there's always one thing bothers is that the doubt between reality and fiction. You know it's not usual for one to find a man trapped in a silo. It has to be one way or the other as I've said. For that, you have to wait till the commencement of the third act. Because sometimes, the could be the film's greatest twist. As I've said, it was not a perfect thriller. Nor ignorable! Most of the scene seems intentional, because they were initiated in the early stage like an intro, only in the latter half, once again, they were brought into the narration with the following consequences. How such things were used to complete the storytelling was well planned design. On this, don't believe the film critics. Me either, if you are not a film fanatic. But all I say is, it is not a bad film as you see on the internet. Those who takes chances and appreciates small scale films should try it. But generally, I recommend it to all! 7/10

To be honest I almost didn't make it past the fifteen minute mark. I was just too lazy to change it. Did it get better, I can't say that it did. I can say that I began to appreciate it more. I still don't really like it, but on another level I really do like it. I hate it for the missed potential where both screen writer and director dropped the ball, almost like they weren't sure what to do with it. The movie is set in the Heartland, the Bread Basket of America, on a farm, with farm people. The timing is back in the early eighties when we were losing our family farmers to banks and speculators. Well a woman the dad meets has a plan to raise money, why she would partner with a complete stranger was never addressed. Her plan was to abduct one of the speculators and hold him for ransom. in a silo on our farm. This farming family has a couple of kids, the wholly psychopathic son and Gertrude, known as Gitty. One day while Gitty was out playing with her chicken, Happy, she was by the forbidden silo and heard the captive. As he hasn't eaten in a couple days he asks Gitty to help him. Reluctant our 11 year-old heroine ends up helping him. She is small enough to fit through the opening at the very top of the silo. They become friends, he teaches her to play chess. Is he her friend or just cozying up to her to the end of freedom? I don't know, the movie is fragmented, sort of. The acting is decent, especially from our young protagonist. Several times Peyton's portrayal of Gitty brought to mind Lizzie Samuels (not sure I'll ever forgive Carol murdering her, I digress. Some other stuff happens (fairly boring) but then we are at dinner and the psychopath cooked. Did I mention he's a psychopath who hates his sister and now he's running around with a gun. Earlier he chopped off the finger of the captive then tells Gitty he is going to kill her. A little bit of this and that and if I gave any further detail you could skip the movie and just read this. Now, is this movie about a kidnapping? Not really. It seems to b=me to be more of an allegory for Gitty growing up. We learn there are no books in the farm house, but Gitty thirsts for knowledge and experience. As she hangs with the captive her dress and hair style change subtly, slightly more mature, she develops goals for future career, a writer. Works much better as allegory that straight crime drama. See it. Heck just writing this I liked it one star more, who knows maybe that will go up next time I watch it, and I will be watching it again. Give it a try.

An 11-year-old girl named Gitty enjoys the 1980's farm life while living with her pregnant mother, Sarah; evil brother, Martin; and doting father, Abe. A young Gitty discovers a businessman named Jonathan hidden in an abandoned grain silo located on the vast property that is her family's farm. Gitty befriends Jonathan and begins bringing him food and literature at his request with a promise that when he escapes the silo, he would give her anything she wanted. Gitty asks Jonathan to tell her a story, and he tells her the story of the lion and the mouse. Later on, Gitty asks her father if he has heard the story of the lion and the mouse. Abe says he knows the story, but then he ends up reciting the story to her with an incorrect, sinister ending. Abe's version of the story has the mouse setting the lion free, but then the lion harming the mouse anyway after it is set free. I thought this was a foreshadow to the man in the silo being set free by Gitty in the future and then harming Gitty anyway. We learn that Abe was about to lose the family farm and has made some sort of plan with an evil woman named Vera. Abe has agreed to hold the man for ransom, but when evil Martin finds out that Gitty has been speaking to the man in the silo, the game now changes because the man may later be able to identify them with the police. The family panics at the thought of going to prison, so they decide Jonathan must be killed so they will not get caught. Just then, Gitty's mom goes into labor and she and Abe leave for the hospital. Gitty sees her chance to save her friend from a horrible fate. She calls the town's bumbling sheriff, but the sheriff ends up being no help at all and ends up being shot by Martin. A chase ensues, and the Martin now threatens to kill Gitty but ends up falling into a shallow, dried-up well during his pursuit of his sister. Jonathan finally breaks free, only to find Abe has come home from the hospital to kill him. Gitty jumps in front of Jonathan, and an injured Jonathan scampers away. Later, we see a still 11-year-old Gitty fending for herself and eating roadkill to survive, as I assume, her parents are now in prison. As she is preparing her roadkill meat for consumption, we see a fancy car pull up and a clean, and well-suited Jonathan step out. Then the movie ends. Because of Abe's incorrect recital of the Lion and the Mouse, I am left wondering whether Jonathan was there to harm her or if he was there to grant her the wishes he promised to fulfill when he was still captive in the silo. I am not sure if this was supposed to be a cliffhanger, or if the ending was accidentally unclear. All in all, it was a very slow and gentle "thriller." I liked it, but I just with the ending had been more clear.

We're living in country very reminiscent of the film's location, so there was a heightened appeal to the scenery for us, but honestly, this movie rises far above the attractiveness of its setting. It's a little unusual in that a major part of the drama hangs on the relationship between the father and daughter who greatly resemble each other. I found then both easy to listen to and watch. Both actors do a great job in their roles and they carry most of the picture with substantial help from this first time director who tells her story very effectively. I've read criticism of the plot and the non-resolution of various issues brought up, but as one who needs murder mysteries and spy dramas to make perfect sense, a story mostly from a child's point of view set on a farm doesn't have to come together like a puzzle. I enjoyed this film and look forward to more from this interesting director.

Really loved this movie. Have to admit that much of what I liked about the film is visual; it's really visually stunning. I think the (director? idk who does this part but...) scenic vistas of farmland are meant to cause a yearning, a pull, an ache for things to be "right" and "good" and "just." Especially beautiful because these vistas are always shown in twilight of the morning or evening; something so quiet and reverent, something so pure and almost holy about it. Like innocence about to be shattered somehow. You find yourself cheering for "Gitty," the main character; a brave young girl whose conscience is more developed (sadly perhaps) than those of the adults in her life. Don't want to give anything away because it's too enjoyable to watch without knowing what happens, but just to say that the allegories of "fables" is sort of woven into the plot, and it reminded me a bit of "Spirited Away," where a young girl has to be brave and have courage and character to be victorious.

Just horrible don't waste your time waiting for it to become something remotely interesting because it never does. We really tried to give it a fair shot so we did watch it but we both so regret it. Hands down worst movie ever.

Thought this was a wonderful film, visually and atmospherically. The characters were excellent, both the likable and the not-so-likable (like the brother and the 'villain'), and the storyline was gripping and evocative. The only problem for me was the ending, or lack of it - too much was left unexplained which I'm afraid ruined it for me overall.

This is an over abundance of ideas and no fleshing out. The synopsis insists there's a 'magical slant' but besides some beautiful cinematography and a single dream sequence, absolutely nothing is wondrous about it. The father is 'healed' from an accident and it's doesn't feel magical like the movie would want you to think, instead, feeling like extremely poor editing and writing. The characters are very one dimensional, and even with the large chunk of time spent 'fleshing them out', they're still weak, and have two to three character traits on them at most. Which would be fine if it truly delivered on some more magic. It's an extortion plot that probably could have worked better if there was more threat than the last twenty minutes. Even when Gitty's secret is discovered, it doesn't feel tense or as if something huge is about to happen, and in part, the awkward cuts hinder the flow. Scenes stop and the movie continues as if it didn't happen. I will give it this; It's oddly timely for the present day.