Taglines: One Student… One teacher… One secret.
Simone Bradley (Diane Gaidry) is a teacher who finds peace within the walls of Saint Theresa’s school, and purpose in bringing the wonders of poetry to her young female students. Though newly arrived student Annabelle (Erin Kelly) has notable intelligence and charisma to spare, her fiery disobedience finds the stern headmistress imploring Simone to reign in the young rebel. But Annabelle’s insubordination is about to become the least of Simone’s concerns, because when the advances of the passionate young woman reveal her teacher’s innermost desires, the devoted teacher will be forced to choose between her career and an affair that could quite possibly destroy her livelihood.
Writer / director Katherine Brooks adapts the classic lesbian drama Mädchen in Uniform with this tale of a precocious senator’s daughter and Catholic boarding school student who falls desperately in love with her beautiful poetry teacher. It was filmed at Marymount High School in Los Angeles and starring Erin Kelly, Diane Gaidry, Laura Breckenridge, Michelle Horn, Ilene Graff, Kevin McCarthy, Maria Maples, Wendy Schaal and Leslie Andrews.
About the Story
Annabelle Tillman, the daughter of a senator, is sent to a Catholic boarding school after being expelled from two of her previous schools. Simone Bradley, a poetry teacher at the school, is in charge of her dormitory. Annabelle shares the dormitory with an amiable classmate, Christen. She also shares a room with Katherine, who tends to bully people, and Colins, a student with a nervous disposition.
Simone is a dependable and respectable teacher who occasionally bends the rules out of concern for her students. Her personal life is synonymous with abiding by the conventions of society and religion. Annabelle is her antiagent – with unrestrained behavior, unconventional choices and outright defiance for authority.
Annabelle receives a stern rebuke from the principal, Mother Immaculata, for audaciously flaunting her Buddhist prayer beads. Simone is given the responsibility of controlling her. At first, Simone requests that the principal move Annabelle to another dormitory but soon notices her maturity and sensitivity and convinces her to comply with the school regulations. In the process Annabelle falls in love with Simone.
Simone resists Annabelle’s delicate overtures until they are left alone at the school during spring break. Simone drives Annabelle to her beach house where Annabelle discovers painful personal details about Simone’s past. Annabelle holds Simone tightly in her arms as Simone breaks down. A deep emotional connection is established between the two.
Simone fights a hard battle with herself but is eventually overpowered by Annabelle’s relentless pursuit. At the annual school dance, Annabelle goes up on stage with her guitar and sings a song for Simone. Simone, who is confused, runs outside, but Annabelle catches up with her. They kiss and end up going back to Simone’s room to have sex.
The next morning Mother Immaculata walks in on them getting dressed and demands to see Simone in her office immediately. On being questioned if she did the right thing Simone admits that she loves Annabelle. Government officials arrest Simone and just as she is leaving, Annabelle places her most prized possession – the Buddhist prayer beads – in her hands.
Loving Annabelle (2006)
Directed by: Katherine Brooks
Starring: Erin Kelly, Diane Gaidry, Laura Breckenridge, Michelle Horn, Ilene Graff, Kevin McCarthy, Maria Maples, Wendy Schaal, Leslie Andrews
Screenplay by: Olivia Bohnhoff, Katherine Brooks
Production Design by: Bruce Hollister
Cinematography by: Cynthia Pusheck
Film Editing by: Lori Ball
Costume Design by: Stephanie Sparkman
Art Direction by: Alicia Marquez
Music by: Marc Dold, Judith Martin
Distributed by: Picturehouse
Release Date: March 10. 2006
Visits: 581
