American Woman (2019 film)

American Woman is an 2019 American drama film, written and directed by Semi Chellas, in her directorial debut. It stars Hong Chau, Sarah Gadon, Lola Kirke, John Gallagher Jr., Ellen Burstyn, and David Cubitt. It is based on the 2003 novel of the same title by Susan Choi.

It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 28, 2019.

Synopsis
Tribeca Film Festival reports the synopsis, "Adept at living off the grid ever since she masterminded an act of violence against the American government, 25-year-old former radical Jenny Shimada (Hong Chau) agrees to take care of three fugitives who are on the run. One of them, the kidnapped granddaughter of a wealthy newspaper magnate (Sarah Gadon), has become a national celebrity for embracing her captors’ ideology and joining their revolutionary cell. Semi Chellas (Mad Men, The Romanoffs) makes her directorial debut with this fictional account of the real-life woman who cared for heiress Patty Hearst after she was abducted."

Cast

 * Hong Chau as Jenny Shimada
 * Sarah Gadon as Pauline
 * Lola Kirke as Yvonne
 * John Gallagher Jr. as Juan
 * Ellen Burstyn as Miss Dolly
 * David Cubitt as Agent John Spivey
 * Matt Gordon as Bob
 * Richard Walters as Thomas

Production
In September 2017, it was announced Hong Chau had joined the cast of the film, with Semi Chellas directing from a screenplay she wrote. Killer Films will produce the film.

Release
It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 28, 2019.