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New Orleans Film Society

Martha Marcy May Marlene

USA 120 min.

Thursday, October 20, 7:30 p.m.
Prytania Theatre
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Director, Writer
Sean Durkin
Producers
Patrick Cunningham, Chris Maybach, Josh Mond
Cinematographer
Jody Lee Lipes
  • Trailer

Synopsis

Known by all four of these names, MMMM is a young woman (Elizabeth Olsen), newly escaped from life as a member of a cult, attempting to seek refuge at the seaside home of her sister (Sarah Paulson). Hard physical labor, manadatory sexual relations with the cult leader (John Hawkes), all are endured; it’s not until the cult embarks on criminal activity that she attempts to leave, something that cults rarely graciously allow. Director-writer Sean Durkin’s first feature concerns itself less with the particulars of the cult than the transformation that is wrecked on the personality of those lured into its circle. Originally entered as a short in an earlier ferstival, MMMM was one of the highlights of the 2011 Sundance Film Festval.