Speak (2004)
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A high school freshman struggles to find her voice after a traumatic assault leaves her unable to speak.
The story
Fourteen-year-old Melinda Sordino begins her first year in high school, struggling to navigate social dynamics and academic expectations. After being assaulted at a party over the previous summer, she becomes unable to speak, leading to isolation and bullying from her peers. When her poor grades prompt her parents to require her to meet with a history teacher, she is assigned an essay on the suffragette movement. Despite her internal struggle and the abandonment by a supposed friend, Melinda begins a slow process of regaining her confidence with the help of a lab partner and an art teacher.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
14-year-old Melinda Sordino begins her first year in high school, struggling with isolation and bullying. It is revealed that she was raped at a house party the previous summer by a popular senior, Andy Evans, but her trauma prevented her from reporting it. When her parents notice her poor grades, they arrange for her to meet with her history teacher, Mr. Neck. She is assigned an essay on the suffragette movement and, after refusing to read it aloud, is sent to the principal's office. While she finds a small amount of support from her lab partner, Dave, and her art teacher, Mr. Freeman, she fears for her former friend Rachel, who is dating Andy. Melinda eventually writes a note to Rachel revealing the truth about Andy's assault. After Rachel confronts Andy and exposes his lies to the school, an enraged Andy corners Melinda in a custodian closet. Melinda overpowers him, threatening him with a shard of glass. They are discovered by other girls, who restrain Andy. Finally, Melinda finds the strength to tell her mother the truth about what happened at the party.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jessica Sharzer
- Writers
- Jessica Sharzer · writer; Annie Young Frisbie · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kristen Stewart · Melinda Sordino; Michael Angarano; Robert John Burke; Eric Lively · Andy Evans; Elizabeth Perkins; D. B. Sweeney; Steve Zahn
- Genres
- coming-of-age; teen drama; drama
- Themes
- trauma; bullying; recovery; silence; female empowerment
- Tone and mood
- touching; serious; dramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- Coming-of-age; High School; Rape Survival; Bullying
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1999 novel of the same name by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim, particularly for Kristen Stewart's performance, with reviews describing it as touching and effective despite some critiques regarding its pacing and character nuances.
- Awards and nominations
- Directors Guild Award · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs · 2006 · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in Columbus, Ohio.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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