THE RULE OF JENNY PEN, New Zealand, 2024. Starring Geoffrey Rush, John Lithgow, George Henare. Directed by James Ashcroft. 104 minutes. Rated MA (Strong coarse language and sexual violence).
We might ask: if Jenny Pen is a ruler then what is her kingdom? But we don’t find out until some way into this drama.
With Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow as the stars, it is something of a surprise to find that this is a New Zealand film with a NZ supporting cast led by veteran George Henare. But, we soon realise that this is a story that could have been situated anywhere.
While most of the film takes place in an aged care residence, it opens strikingly in a courtroom. Rush is the presiding judge Stefan Mortensen, sharp tongued and severe towards the accused, upbraiding the mother of victims because of her carelessness, but showing uneasy signs and slips, eventually collapsing with a stroke. Rush has not been on screen for some years and his performance, speaking style, body language and expression makes us regret this absence.
Then we are in the aged care residence, the judge rather sullen, complaining, wanting a single room, disdain of the former footballer sharing his room, reading his book in a superior fashion, giving the impression that he is above everyone else and all of this.
Enter a manic resident, Dave Crealy, played in unexpected fashion by Lithgow. And, at the end of one of his arms, a puppet whom he calls Jenny Pen. He is dominant and the residents are wary. He is a paying guest, and seems to be able to get away with every whim, criticising people, shovelling away his food, an ability for mockery. And, all the time waving around Jenny Pen, and extolling her dominance.
There are number of popular songs in the background but one comes to the foreground with Crealy and Jenny Pen in the increasingly frantic version of ‘Knees up, Mother Brown’.
Then the film moves into something of horror mode. Crealy invades people’s privacy, torments the residents, getting away with all types of malice such as physical torment and verbal mockery. He entices a woman, who thinks her family is coming to visit her, out into the grounds where she dies. He and Jenny Pen are the presumptive rulers.
To enjoy the horror aspects, the filmmakers make a huge demand on audience willing suspension of disbelief, especially for the absence of the nursing staff sometimes during the day but especially during the night when Crealy is on the rampage. Indeed, there seems to be a total lack of security surveillance in corridors and rooms. Which allows him to get away with everything.
Will there be a revolt against the rule of Jenny Pen? Indeed, the judge and the former footballer, in collaboration, despite disabilities, resort to some violence and reprisals . . .
If one accepts the situation and appreciates the performances, Crealy and Jenny Pen have their intriguing moments. And Geoffrey Rush is always worth watching.
Rialto
Released 20 March