Beauty Mark
Beauty Mark is a 2017 American drama film written and directed by Harris Doran. Inspired by true events, the film follows a poverty-stricken young mother who has to get money from a man from her abusive past in order to save her family. The film explores the interconnected themes of abuse, cycles of abuse, systemic poverty, addiction, and race.
The film won multiple awards including the Jury Prize for "Breakout Performance" for its star Auden Thornton at the Los Angeles Film Festival premiere, the Ultra Indie Film Award at Woodstock Film Festival for its director Harris Doran, and the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Austin Film Festival.
Plot
Set in the Portland area of downtown Louisville, Kentucky, the film follows Angie Simms, a poverty-stricken young mother taking care of her three-year-old son Trey and her alcoholic mother. She works at a convenience store which Lorraine, a dancer at a local club, frequents. Lorraine insists the men "ain't using me, I'm using them." Angie finds out the house her family is living in is condemned and they must move immediately. Out of options, she decides to try to sue Bruce a man who abused her as a child, only to find out that at twenty-four, she is one year past the statute of limitations under Kentucky law.She seeks help from Zachariah the father of a childhood friend, Pastor Hodges, Kaylee a childhood acquaintance, and Pam a girl a few years younger than she.
Cast
- Auden Thornton as Angie Simms
- Catherine Curtin as Ruth Ann Simms
- Laura Bell Bundy as Lorraine
- Jeff Kober as Bruce
- Madison Iseman as Pam
- Deirdre Lovejoy as Pastor Hodges
- Jameson Fowler as Trey
- Tim Morton as Wyatt
- Paten Hughes as Kaylee
- Ben Curtis as Billy
- Wynn Reichert as Ray
- Radney Foster as Zachariah
- Mike Schroerlucke as Inspector
Release
Critical reception
Director Harris Doran was shortlisted for the Independent Spirit Awards Someone To Watch Award for his work on Beauty Mark. A day after its digital release, the film hit #14 on the iTunes Top Independent Film chart.Ashley Judd said of the film, "Powerful film. Survivors must no longer be silent."