Arresting Gena (1997)
Directed by Hannah Weyer
Genres - Drama, Adult |
Sub-Genres - Coming-of-Age |
Run Time - 90 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Mark Deming
Gena (Aesha Waks) is a 16-year-old girl whose mother has fallen into a coma; with her immediate family unable to watch over her, it's decided that she'll spend the summer with her Uncle John (Paul Lazar). Gena takes a part-time job at a beauty parlor and makes friends with a girl named Jane (Summer Phoenix). Jane, however, is not an especially good influence; she's a recent runaway from a halfway house and is looking for her missing brother Sonny (Sam Rockwell), a convicted felon. When Jane disappears, Gena searches for her and is led into a netherworld of drugs, crime, gang violence, and sexual initiation. This independent drama was screened at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival; Heather Matarazzo of Welcome to the Dollhouse appears in a supporting role.
Characteristics
Keywords
boredom, brother, coma, coming-of-age, decadence, family-member, friendship, fugitive, innocence, loneliness, runaway [from home], search, sex, uncle
