Archive of films Monster / Monster

USA
2003, 111 min

Section: Horizons
Year: 2004

The heroine of a drama inspired by real events is the prostitute Aileen Wuornos, whose disgust for her humiliating profession assumes a new dimensions when she kills one of her clients in self-defence. The film describing the fate of "America´s first female serial killer" won the Independent Spirit Award. Charlize Theron´s performance also won an Oscar, Golden Globe and a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

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.

Contacts

Bontonfilm, a.s.
Na Poříčí 1047/26, 110 00, Praha 1
Czech Republic
Tel: +420 257 415 111
Fax: +420 257 415 113
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.bontonfilm.cz

Media 8 Entertainment
, CA 900 67, Los Angeles
United States of America
Tel: +1 310 226 8300
Fax: +1 310 226 8350
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.media8entertainment.com

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About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	Horizons

Director:	Patty Jenkins
Screenplay:	Patty Jenkins
Dir. of Photography:	Steve Bernstein
Music:	Brian Wayne Transeau
Editor:	Arthur Coburn, Jane Kurson
Producer:	Charlize Theron, Mark Damon, Clark Peterson, Donald Kushner, Brad Wyman
Production:	Media 8 Entertainment
Cast:	Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Scott Wilson, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Lee Tergesen, Annie Corley
Contact:	Bontonfilm, a.s., Media 8 Entertainment

Guests

Aleš Danielis

Distributor

Marek Jeníček

Distributor, Producer