JACKIE (2016)

Summary:

Pablo Larraín's "Jackie" offers an intimate and unflinching portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy in the immediate aftermath of her husband President John F. Kennedy's assassination in November 1963. The film primarily unfolds through the lens of an interview Jackie grants to a journalist a week after the tragedy, revealing her profound grief, her struggle with faith, and her fierce determination to control the narrative of her husband's legacy. It delves into the harrowing hours and days following the assassination, showcasing her meticulous efforts to plan a state funeral befitting a fallen president, all while navigating personal trauma and immense public scrutiny.

The movie explores Jackie's transformation from a grieving widow into a resolute architect of history, intent on immortalizing JFK's presidency as a "Camelot" era. It portrays her as a woman of immense strength and vulnerability, grappling with the loss of her husband, her home, and her identity, yet steadfast in her mission to preserve the image and memory of John F. Kennedy for posterity. The film is a powerful examination of grief, public image, and the creation of myth in the face of national tragedy.

Keywords: Jackie Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Assassination, Camelot, Legacy, Grief, Washington D.C., 2016, Natalie Portman, Biographical Drama.

Plot:

The film opens a week after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, with Jacqueline Kennedy (Natalie Portman) granting an interview to a journalist (Billy Crudup) at her Hyannis Port compound. She sets a strict tone, asserting her control over what will be published, indicating her deep concern for shaping the historical record. The narrative then begins to weave between this present-day interview and a series of fragmented, non-linear flashbacks that depict the harrowing events leading up to, during, and immediately following JFK's death.

One of the earliest and most visceral flashbacks takes the audience to Dallas, November 22, 1963. Jackie is seated beside her husband in the motorcade, smiling and waving, when the shots ring out. The film meticulously recreates the horrific moment: JFK's head wound, Jackie's desperate attempts to aid him, her climb onto the trunk of the car in a state of shock, and her refusal to remove her blood-stained pink Chanel suit, declaring, "Let them see what they've done." This act becomes a powerful symbol of her trauma and her immediate, almost defiant, assertion of witness.

The journey back to Washington D.C. on Air Force One is fraught with tension and grief. Jackie remains by her husband's casket, observing Lyndon B. Johnson's hurried swearing-in ceremony with a detached solemnity. She converses with Bobby Kennedy (Peter Sarsgaard), who is equally devastated, as they begin to process the incomprehensible loss and the rapid shift of power. Upon returning to the White House, the once vibrant residence feels eerily silent and hollow. Jackie wanders through its familiar rooms, now imbued with a profound sense of absence, grappling with the sudden end of her life as First Lady and the immense personal void.

Amidst her profound grief, Jackie demonstrates an extraordinary resolve. She insists on a grand, public state funeral, drawing inspiration from Abraham Lincoln's procession, despite the concerns of Secret Service agents and Bobby about security, logistics, and cost. She meticulously plans every detail, from the horse-drawn caisson to the eternal flame she envisions for his burial site at Arlington National Cemetery. Her determination to walk behind the coffin with her children, even against advice, underscores her fierce commitment to honoring her husband's memory and presenting a dignified image of national mourning.

Interspersed with these immediate post-assassination events are earlier flashbacks, most notably the 1962 televised tour of the White House. This segment showcases a different Jackie: poised, articulate, and passionate about the historical restoration of the executive mansion. This contrast highlights the immense pressure she was under, both as a public figure and a private individual, and underscores her deep connection to the White House as a symbol of American history and her husband's presidency. Her earlier dedication to preserving history foreshadows her later, more desperate efforts to shape it.

Jackie's conversations with Father Richard McSorley (John Hurt) provide a window into her spiritual and existential crisis. She questions God, the meaning of suffering, and her own identity stripped of her role as First Lady. These candid discussions reveal her vulnerability, her moments of doubt, and her struggle to reconcile her faith with the brutal reality of her loss. The priest offers comfort and guidance, but ultimately, Jackie must find her own answers and forge a new path for herself and her children.

A pivotal moment in the film is Jackie's decision to associate JFK's presidency with the legend of "Camelot." Inspired by the Lerner and Loewe musical, she tells the journalist that her husband often played the album before bed, and that for one brief, shining moment, there was a Camelot in Washington. This deliberate crafting of a romantic, idealized image becomes her primary tool for cementing his legacy, transforming a tragic end into a mythic golden age. It is a conscious act of historical revision, born from love, grief, and a desire for enduring significance.

The state funeral itself is depicted with solemn grandeur, a testament to Jackie's unwavering vision. The world watches as she leads the procession, a stoic figure in black, embodying both personal sorrow and national resilience. The film culminates with the funeral and the subsequent days as Jackie prepares to leave the White House. She packs her belongings, a poignant act of detachment from a life abruptly ended. The final interview scenes see her reasserting her control, editing the journalist's words, and ensuring that her version of events—the "Camelot" narrative—will be the one that endures. The film closes with Jackie driving away from the White House, leaving behind the public stage but carrying with her the indelible mark of history she helped to shape, a testament to her profound impact on the memory of John F. Kennedy.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy
• Peter Sarsgaard as Robert F. Kennedy
• Greta Gerwig as Nancy Tuckerman
• Billy Crudup as The Journalist
• John Hurt as Father Richard McSorley
• Max Casella as Jack Valenti
• Beth Grant as Lady Bird Johnson

Crew:

• Director: Pablo Larraín
• Writer: Noah Oppenheim
• Producers: Darren Aronofsky, Mickey Liddell, Scott Franklin, Ari Handel, Juan de Dios Larraín
• Music: Mica Levi
• Cinematography: Stéphane Fontaine
• Film Editing: Sebastián Sepúlveda

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: December 2, 2016 (USA)
• Language: English
• Genre: Biographical Drama
• Running Time: 100 minutes
• Accolades: Academy Award Nominations for Best Actress (Natalie Portman), Best Original Score, and Best Costume Design; Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actress (Natalie Portman); BAFTA Award Nomination for Best Actress (Natalie Portman).