Script review – “Lianna” by John Sayles

This strikes me as a very thorough script – which I guess is a back-handed compliment but it’s the best way I can think of to describe it. It feels as though it goes through all the issues of a woman realising she’s a lesbian, as if ticking off boxes: establish unsatisfactory home life, seduction by elder woman, breaking up with woman, reaction of straight male friends, reaction of straight female friends, reaction of stranger, reaction of kids, visiting lesbian bar, sexual experience with second woman, enjoying looking at other women, etc. It seems to lack passion – more like a thorough essay than a film. Maybe Sayles was overly intimidated by the fact he was a man making this movie and didn’t want all those lesbian academics on his back. Some of it is very funny though and occasionally it really comes alive like the scene where Lianna tells her husband about the affair, the seduction scene is quite hot, and the relationship between her and her best friend has real heart. I don’t mean to be overly critical, it’s intelligent and well written and all that, it’s just what I felt.