Palindromes (2005)

2 Stars (out of 4)

Aborted

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Todd Solondz (Happiness, Storytelling) returns with a feature film so controversial that it nearly failed to pick up a distributor. Palindromes involves the plight of a young girl, Aviva, who wishes to get pregnant but is forced to have an abortion. When it is botched, she runs away from home. She finds "salvation" on a religious farm, but discovers a secret plot to kill the abortion doctor. Aviva is played by eight different actresses of all shapes and sizes and colors (in order, Emani Sledge, Valerie Shusterov, Hannah Freiman, Rachel Corr, Will Denton, Sharon Wilkins, Shayna Levine and Jennifer Jason Leigh), though it's unclear as to what exactly Soldonz wishes to accomplish by his ever-changing protagonist. Moreover, the filmmaker presents both sides of this sensitive issue with a smartass smirk, like John Waters attempting to make a message film. It's ultimately so elusive and repulsive that it makes Citizen Ruth look like Citizen Kane. Ellen Barkin does a remarkable job as Aviva's mother, while the always-superb Jennifer Jason Leigh turns up as one of Aviva's later incarnations.