Hannah Free
Sharon Gless, infamous for her role as the foul mouthed, overly proud PFLAG mother figure in the drama Queer as Folk, returns to the screen for Hannah Free. A deep supporter of the gay community in many ways, the film offers Gless the first chance to play and out and lesbian. (No, Cagney and Lacey did not count.) So the big question is, did Sharon pull it off and is the film any good?
Playing like some kind of second rate lifetime movie, the film attempts to capture the love of two women over the span of many years. When a young teenager named Greta visits an old folks home claiming to be gathering info for a school project, Hannah (Gless) takes the opportunity to fondly recall the love of her life, now in a coma at the home.
Hannah became friendly with Rachel when they were both little girls, and that’s when the sparks started. Rachel was very hesitant, even as a little girl, careful to resist Hannah’s many charms, or even partake in an innocent kiss between the two. The chemistry was undeniable however, and eventually, the two give into passion during their teenage years.
Throughout their lives, the intense love often gave way to continuous heartbreak. Hannah was a drifter, and could never stay with Rachel for any long period of time. Leaving to travel the world or join the military, she would often disappear and reappear as she pleased, eventually causing a serious fracture in the relationship. Rachel’s mother also highly disapproved of the union, causing more problems. When Hannah finally decides to settle down with Rachel later in life, it appears some of the irreversible damage may have already been done.
Hannah Free rests on three central performances. Gless, who is a very talented actress, doesn’t exhibit much range here as Hannah. There are variations of her loud mouthed, aggressive Debbie from Queer as Folk in the character, and she fails to give a different arc to a stubborn but fragile woman who has lost her great love. Ann Hagemann, does a bit better as Hannah’s love interest. Her performance has a bit more texture, and one can sense the conflict within a little better. Finally, Jaqui Jackson, who plays the young teenager Greta, is a standout in a minor role. Basically created as a catalyst to reunite the ill-fated lovers, she still brings appeal and attitude to the role. The actresses who play Hannah and Rachel in their early years are all serviceable
The film consists entirely of flashbacks, with the nursing home being the axis on which everything revolves. Sometimes the structure works for the film, other times it falls flat, as in the case to have a younger version of Rachel, now in a coma, repeatedly visit Hannah as a figment of her imagination. Hannah Free is filled with those wishy washy moments. Sometimes it works; more often it does not. When the movie dissolves into Hallmark sentiments in the last twenty minutes, there’s no turning back. That kind of pap is better suited for the small screen.
