Monster

Colour, 35 mm
USA, 2003, 111 min
Section: Horizons

Synopsis

Aileen Wuornos is a prostitute. Men repulse her and she hates the way she´s been making money since age thirteen. Nothing good ever happened in her native Michigan, so she moved to Florida. But even there, lying under a sweaty truck driver along the side of the road, it´s been hard to imagine that things will get better. Things do take a turn, however, when she meets 18-year-old Shelby Wall in a lesbian bar. Shelby´s parents have sent her to live with relatives in the hope that they might rid their daughter of her "dubious" sexual orientation. In Shelby Aileen sees a vision of a normal life. Yet after killing one of her tricks in self defence, she embarks on a trail of violence from which there is no return... Patty Jenkins´ debut, presenting unfamiliar social commentary on top of its engaging love story, was based on true events ("America´s first female serial killer" confessed to killing six men "in self-defence" and was executed in Florida two years ago). Partially filmed in locations Aileen Wuornos frequented in 1989-90.

About the director

Patty Jenkins (Lawrence, Texas) attended the director´s program at the American Film Institute. She herself, however, said she learned more from watching movies, primarily while at the University of Kansas. In 1996 she began working in film as second assistant camera on the tragicomedy A Modern Affair (dir. by Vern Oakley). In 2001 she wrote and directed the short films Just Drive and Velocity Rules; the latter won Best Short Film at the Telluride (Colorado) Indiefest. Her feature directorial debut is Monster, which took the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and was presented in the Competition at this year´s Berlinale. Charlize Theron, who helped produce the film, won for her acting performance an Oscar, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit Award and a Silver Bear at the Berlinale, among many other awards.