Hannah Free (film)
Encyclopedia
Hannah Free is a 2009 American lesbian romance film, adapted from Claudia Allen's play of the same name. It is a story about living, loving, and letting go. Hannah and Rachel grew up as little girls in the same small Midwest
town, where traditional gender expectations eventually challenged their deep love for one another. Hannah becomes an adventurous, unapologetic lesbian
and Rachel a strong but quiet homemaker
. Weaving back and forth between past and present, the film reveals how the women maintained their love affair despite a marriage, a world war
, infidelities
, and family denial.
Hannah Free is a feature-length motion picture shot in HD
for distribution in worldwide theatrical and ancillary markets. It stars Sharon Gless
, Maureen Gallagher, Kelli Strickland, Ann Hagemann, Taylor Miller
, and Jacqui Jackson. The film is produced by Ripe Fruit Films, LLC.
While Hannah's heart is breaking at the thought of not being able to say goodbye, her mind is full of memories of their life together, and she is frequently visited by a younger, spirit Rachel. Hannah sees, hears, and experiences her, but to anyone else, Hannah appears to be talking to herself. Frustrated by feeling like a prisoner, Hannah grumbles, pleads to see Rachel, and writes in her journal. The backstory gradually emerges.
Hannah transitioned easily from tomboy to openly gay while Rachel gave in to societal expectations, married, raised twins, and kept one foot in the closet most of her life, even though everyone knew about her and Hannah. Having Hannah around was like flying a rainbow flag. Hannah was born to wander. Rachel never left Michigan, but Hannah spent time in Alaska, South America, and during WWII, stationed in New Mexico as a WAC. She had affairs with other women in her travels and they remained good friends, but Rachel always was her true love.
There are many flashbacks that show Hannah and Rachel in many aspects of their relationship: being in love, making love, and arguing.
In the nursing home, Hannah deals with the annoying but well-meaning staff members, a bewildered resident, a nasty evangelist, and an equally nasty Marge. The arrival of 21-year old Greta serves as a catalyst to get Hannah out of bed and into Rachel's room. Greta poses as a random student doing an interview for class, but turns out to be Rachel's biological great-granddaughter, whom Hannah had only met as a young child. Greta has a complicated relationship with her grandmother, Marge, who has never truly accepted Hannah as any sort of important mother figure. Greta, a young lesbian, is fully committed to the rights of Hannah and Rachel, and schemes to bring the family together.
In an emotional final scene, Rachel lays comatose, while Hannah, Marge and Greta hash out their differences. Together, they say goodbye to Rachel, and lovingly set her free.
in Chicago
. A hallmark of Allen’s plays is the portrayal of strong, compassionate women. Author’s note: “Few plays are written about elderly lesbians. Fewer plays deal with their extreme vulnerability in a system that doesn’t recognize our rights. I wanted to deal with those issues while also creating a love story about two women who loved each other for decades despite a few flaws and more than a few differences.”
. Her award-winning narrative and experimental short films have screened internationally, including the American Film Institute
, Sundance
, and many other festivals. In addition to founding a media literacy
program for teen girls called Chicks Make Flicks, Carlton works as a field producer for Sirius Radio and PBS Television.
of Chicago
. The Keith House was the main shooting location. The film's art department transformed rooms of the house into all the necessary sets, like the nursing home
, Alaska shed, and various living spaces.
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
town, where traditional gender expectations eventually challenged their deep love for one another. Hannah becomes an adventurous, unapologetic lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
and Rachel a strong but quiet homemaker
Homemaker
Homemaking is a mainly American term for the management of a home, otherwise known as housework, housekeeping or household management...
. Weaving back and forth between past and present, the film reveals how the women maintained their love affair despite a marriage, a world war
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
, infidelities
Infidelity
In many intimate relationships in many cultures there is usually an express or implied expectation of exclusivity, especially in sexual matters. Infidelity most commonly refers to a breach of the expectation of sexual exclusivity.Infidelity can occur in relation to physical intimacy and/or...
, and family denial.
Hannah Free is a feature-length motion picture shot in HD
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
for distribution in worldwide theatrical and ancillary markets. It stars Sharon Gless
Sharon Gless
Sharon Marguerite Gless is an American character actress of stage, film and television, who is best known for her roles as Maggie Philbin on Switch , as Sgt. Christine Cagney in the police procedural drama series Cagney & Lacey and as Debbie Novotny in the Showtime cable television series Queer...
, Maureen Gallagher, Kelli Strickland, Ann Hagemann, Taylor Miller
Taylor Miller
Taylor Miller is an American soap opera actress.-Acting:She is best known for her role as Nina Cortlandt on ABC Daytime's All My Children , which she played from 1979 to 1984 and from 1986 to 1989. Miller returned in cameos in 1994, 1995, 1996, and 2010...
, and Jacqui Jackson. The film is produced by Ripe Fruit Films, LLC.
Plot
Set mostly in a nursing home, 70-something Hannah is kept separate from her lifelong friend and lover Rachel, who is not expected to emerge from her coma. The nurses follow the orders of Rachel's daughter Marge, who claims her mother would be upset by a visit from Hannah.While Hannah's heart is breaking at the thought of not being able to say goodbye, her mind is full of memories of their life together, and she is frequently visited by a younger, spirit Rachel. Hannah sees, hears, and experiences her, but to anyone else, Hannah appears to be talking to herself. Frustrated by feeling like a prisoner, Hannah grumbles, pleads to see Rachel, and writes in her journal. The backstory gradually emerges.
Hannah transitioned easily from tomboy to openly gay while Rachel gave in to societal expectations, married, raised twins, and kept one foot in the closet most of her life, even though everyone knew about her and Hannah. Having Hannah around was like flying a rainbow flag. Hannah was born to wander. Rachel never left Michigan, but Hannah spent time in Alaska, South America, and during WWII, stationed in New Mexico as a WAC. She had affairs with other women in her travels and they remained good friends, but Rachel always was her true love.
There are many flashbacks that show Hannah and Rachel in many aspects of their relationship: being in love, making love, and arguing.
In the nursing home, Hannah deals with the annoying but well-meaning staff members, a bewildered resident, a nasty evangelist, and an equally nasty Marge. The arrival of 21-year old Greta serves as a catalyst to get Hannah out of bed and into Rachel's room. Greta poses as a random student doing an interview for class, but turns out to be Rachel's biological great-granddaughter, whom Hannah had only met as a young child. Greta has a complicated relationship with her grandmother, Marge, who has never truly accepted Hannah as any sort of important mother figure. Greta, a young lesbian, is fully committed to the rights of Hannah and Rachel, and schemes to bring the family together.
In an emotional final scene, Rachel lays comatose, while Hannah, Marge and Greta hash out their differences. Together, they say goodbye to Rachel, and lovingly set her free.
Cast
- Sharon GlessSharon GlessSharon Marguerite Gless is an American character actress of stage, film and television, who is best known for her roles as Maggie Philbin on Switch , as Sgt. Christine Cagney in the police procedural drama series Cagney & Lacey and as Debbie Novotny in the Showtime cable television series Queer...
as Hannah Free - Maureen Gallagher as Older Rachel
- Kelli Strickland as Hannah 30's
- Ann Hagemann as Rachel 30's
- Taylor MillerTaylor MillerTaylor Miller is an American soap opera actress.-Acting:She is best known for her role as Nina Cortlandt on ABC Daytime's All My Children , which she played from 1979 to 1984 and from 1986 to 1989. Miller returned in cameos in 1994, 1995, 1996, and 2010...
as Marge - Jacqui Jackson as Greta
- Pat Kane as the Minister
- Meg Thalken as the Mail Lady
- Les Hinderyckx as the Old Man
- Elaine Carlson as the Nurse
- Casey Tutton as Young Hannah
- Elita Ernsteen as Young Rachel
Pre-production
"Hannah Free" was adapted by Claudia Allen from her own play. Claudia Allen is a playwright-in-residence at Victory Gardens TheaterVictory Gardens Theater
Victory Gardens Theater is a theater in Chicago, Illinois dedicated to the development and production of new plays and playwrights. The theater was founded in 1974 when seven Chicago artists, Warren Casey, Cordis Heard, Roberta Maguire, Mac McGuinnes, Cecil O'Neal, June Pyskaček, and David Rasche...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. A hallmark of Allen’s plays is the portrayal of strong, compassionate women. Author’s note: “Few plays are written about elderly lesbians. Fewer plays deal with their extreme vulnerability in a system that doesn’t recognize our rights. I wanted to deal with those issues while also creating a love story about two women who loved each other for decades despite a few flaws and more than a few differences.”
Direction
Wendy Jo Carlton is a filmmaker, writer, and photographer with a background in radio production, teaching, and media activismMedia activism
Media activism is activism that uses media and communication technologies for social movement, and/or tries to change policies relating to media and communication ....
. Her award-winning narrative and experimental short films have screened internationally, including the American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
, Sundance
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, and many other festivals. In addition to founding a media literacy
Media literacy
Media literacy is a repertoire of competences that enable people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres, and forms.-Education:...
program for teen girls called Chicks Make Flicks, Carlton works as a field producer for Sirius Radio and PBS Television.
Production
Hannah Free was filmed in the historic Prairie Avenue DistrictPrairie Avenue District
The Prairie Avenue District is a historic district in the Near South Side community area of Chicago, Illinois. It includes the 1800 and 1900 blocks of South Prairie Avenue and the 1800 block of South Indiana, and 211-217 East Cullerton. It was the site of the Battle of Fort Dearborn and became the...
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The Keith House was the main shooting location. The film's art department transformed rooms of the house into all the necessary sets, like the nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
, Alaska shed, and various living spaces.
Awards
- Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Philadelphia Q-Fest.
- Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature film at the Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival.
- Audience Choice Award for Favourite Feature at the Montreal International LGBT Film Festival.
- Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature film at the St. Louis Q-Fest.
- Outmusic Award for Outstanding Soundtrack in NYC (2009).
- Midwest Independent Award for Best Editor (Sharon Zurek).
Screenings
- Frameline Film FestivalFrameline Film FestivalFrameline is a nonprofit media arts organization that produces the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, the oldest film festival devoted to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender programming currently in existence...
2009 as the closing night film. - Los Angeles OutfestOutfestOutfest is an LGBT-oriented film showcase and festival in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1982 as the "Gay and Lesbian Media Festival and Conference", the name was changed to Outfest in 1994.-Programs:...
Film Festival 2009. - Philadelphia Q-Fest 2009.
- St. Louis Q-Fest 2010.
- Austin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2009.
- Seattle Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2009 as the closing night film.
- Pittsburgh Lesbian & Gay Film Festival as the opening night film.
- Outburst Queer Arts Festival 2009, Belfast, Northern Ireland.