Inspired by Jessica Knoll’s 2015 book of the exact title, Mike Barker’s 2022 psychological thriller mystery film “Luckiest Girl Alive” was made with a script by the same author. This American writer’s first book, Luckiest Girl Alive, was a 2015 New York Times bestseller in the mystery genre. Ani Fanelli, the movie’s main character, is portrayed by Mila Kunis. The challenges Ani is trying to overcome lead to unexpected discoveries that have a significant impact on her life, around which the movie revolves and brings together bouts of her past and the question of “What is a happy life?”
Before being made available on Netflix on the 7th of October, 2022, the film premiered on the 30th of September, 2022, in a few select theatres. Both those who liked the book and those who had never heard of it went to the movies and are still watching the movie at home today. This film is not known for its humorous themes and tales. Definitely check the trigger warnings for this one. However, there are other aspects of this intricately woven film that are not immediately apparent.
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A Quick Recap Of The Movie
In her previous high school, the exclusive and famous Bradley School, Ani FaNelli is seated in front of painted panels. While discussing a gun massacre that took place in this area 20 years ago and the allegations around it, she is on stress. She is informed by the director that she is fortunate to have a parent who fetched her a lawyer as well as backed her because not everybody has that. Ani remains silent as she remembers a time when her mother did not accept her version of the facts. where her mother snarls, calling her filthy and saying she is not the girl she nurtured. She briefly returns to the present. In response, she claims to be the luckiest girl alive.
The story is straightforward, but Ani’s memories are purposefully portrayed as parts of a larger jigsaw that only connect to the movie’s conclusion. This makes several elements of Ani’s plot a little convoluted, but it also generates enough mystery and tension to keep one intrigued. When Luckiest Girl Alive eventually explains why Ani strives so hard to make a flawless, concealed present for her, all of these factors join together at the end of the story. In the last act, she is compelled to shatter this façade of excellence and receives a new sense of meaning that is both more freeing and satisfying than her prior trauma-driven existence.
What Happens In The Past Sequences Of Luckiest Girl Alive
When Ani begins to address her history, she reveals that she was violently raped by three males around her sophomore year, only a few nights before the school massacre. Because one of the guys, Dean, was from a privileged background, she attempted to talk to the school’s administration about it but was ignored. After becoming dissatisfied with the injustice of school, two lads, including her buddy Arthur, plan a gun massacre. As a result of the assault, two of the three rapists perish.
Dean receives a leg shot from Arthur, who then urges Ani to exact retribution. She attempts to do so but is unsuccessful and wounds Arthur. Dean claims that Ani was allegedly a collaborator in the mass killing even though Ani physically rescues his life. He escapes getting charged with sexually assaulting her and wins everyone over by explaining that he has a permanent leg ailment. Due to this terrible event, Mila Kunis’ protagonist alters her identity from TifAni to the new Ani, but during the interview, her history resurfaces and threatens to destroy her new persona.
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The Ending And The Theories Explained
She continues to hide the facts and maintains them to herself after realizing that her mom, Dina, does not support her and that her instructor, Andrew, was fired for standing up for her. And although her trauma continues coming back and exposing her to the incident, she gradually trains herself to avoid talking about it. The encounter with the high school instructor who had encouraged her is a turning point that causes Ani to reconsider her choices in life. Ani joyfully informs Andrew that she has been hired at The New York Times, yet despite their brief interaction, she knows deep down that unless she makes certain adjustments, she might never truly start the work.
Even though Ani wants to remain with Luke, she must end things with him since he prevents her from moving on and being free. She chooses to split up with Luke and opts not to move to London with him because she feels uncomfortable discussing her traumatic history with Luke and his family. Rather, she stays in New York City to work as a journalist for The New York Times. Ani reached a turning point when she moved from creating sexually suggestive stuff for male readers to publishing her tale for The New York Times. It demonstrates how much she has advanced from her people-pleasing ways.
She decides to expose all of Dean’s deceptions throughout the years. Dean threatens to deny her role in the mass killing if she retracts her allegation that he had raped her in an attempt to manipulate her. Dean is unaware that Ani taped their chat and came prepared. Ani finally stands up and defends herself and utilizes the audio to demonstrate her sincerity regarding the school massacre and the horrible events that preceded it. By doing this, she discovers the perfect voice to inspire those who are having difficulty speaking up, in addition to empowering herself.
The Reddit Netizens’ Opinions
Most of them expressed being caught off guard by the explicit rape sequences shown in the film as it was triggering. The story received loads of positive responses, and they articulated it to be a cathartic experience to watch it as it was something only victims of sexual assault can truly relate it. The film made a point to bring about women’s empowerment in its narrative rather than blatantly giving the film a plot where a lover comes along, and the girl cries to him and forgets all her worries.
The true nature of the human response to brutalization was brought about through first-hand and second experiences, how her mother had accused her as the culprit of the horror while her male peers and teacher were more understanding of her trauma, as a normal person would. It also struck on the theme of wealth and power’s tyranny over humanity. Overall the storyline incurred much emotional response and had them crying at the end. According to them, it was the perfect, right and necessary depiction of a traumatized woman in our society.
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