Oleanna (1994)

Director:

David Mamet

Writers (WGA):

David Mamet (play)
David Mamet (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 November 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

He said it was a lesson. She said it was sexual harassment. Whichever side you take, you're wrong.

Plot:

A two character movie, involving a college professor, John, who is confronted by a female student, Carol...

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Sexual Harassment | False Accusation Of Rape | Minimal Cast | False Accusation

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

William H. Macy	...	John
Debra Eisenstadt	...	Carol

Also Known As:

Oleanna (Spain) [es]

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Metropolitan State Hospital - 475 Trapelo Road, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Bay Kinescope

Trivia:

The woman singing over the end credits is Mamet's wife, Rebecca Pidgeon, who originated the role of Carol on stage alongside William H. Macy.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Carol leaves John's office after their second meeting, shouting "Help!", the shadow of the camera covers the door.

Quotes:

[last lines]
John: Oh, my God.
Carol: Yes, that's right.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Angels' Revenge (#7.22)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Hail To The Men Of Merit

Political correctness gone mad

The overwhelming impression that I got from watching this film is how language can be manipulated and used as a weapon to crush someone else. At the beginning, we see Macy's professor in a bad light (he seems to be playing the weak and morally compromised character that he does so well), but as the film goes on, I thought he was increasingly becoming the victim, not the oppressor. Carol uses language and wields political correctness like a weapon to crush the professor whilst trying to claim the moral high ground. He tries to lighten the situation by being familiar, she cries harrassment, he takes a call from his wife, Carol rebukes him for being patronising. If he tries to explain his position or reasoning, she shuts up shop and repeatedly says "I don't understand". The exact words he uses are more important to her than his true meaning. The more he tries to understand her, the less she tries to understand him. In the end there is no room left for compromise, no accord and no civility between the two. When Macy punches her at the end, there's almost a sense of relief as she has gone way beyond reasonable behaviour but this relief is mixed with horror; Macy's problems have now only just begun. A moment of pent up frustration and anger will destroy the man.

I'm not sure what all of Mamet's themes are supposed to be in this film, but I got the sense that a type of man; flawed, patronising and in a comfort zone is under threat from the new wave of political correctness and militant social thinking. Does the treatment he receives from Carol really fit his "crimes"? One chilling bit is where he's walking through the campus and he feels alienated from the students, and there are signs up on the walls (presumably put up by the students or a committee) with political correct propaganda on them. As in Orwell's "1984", the thought police target language to bring people down.