American Pastoral 2016

In the midst of a picturesque post-war America, Seymour Levov, affectionately known as “Swede,” has left this world behind. His narrative unfolds through poignant flashbacks, revealing a life that seemed idyllic from the outside, but hid deeper complexities within its walls. Swede’s story begins with his relationship with Dawn Dwyer (formerly a beauty queen and pageant winner), whom he met alongside his father Lou at their family-owned glove factory. The meeting of minds between Lou and Dawn proved to be a challenging one, as they disagreed on the religious upbringing of their future children. Despite Lou’s attempts to assert his dominance, Swede intervened, smoothing over the tension between his loved ones.

As the Levovs’ seemingly perfect life unfolded in their beautiful country home in Newark, Swede commuted daily to the factory, earning the respect and admiration of his employees for his fairness and generosity. Dawn, meanwhile, tended to their cows with dedication, a passion that brought her closer to nature. The couple’s daughter, Meredith (or Merry as she was affectionately known), struggled with a severe stutter, which they addressed through speech therapy sessions. However, it wasn’t until they met Sheila, a new therapist who believed Merry’s stutter stemmed from unconscious resentment towards her mother, that they began to grasp the root of their daughter’s difficulties.

As Merry grew into adolescence, she and Swede embarked on a camping trip together, leaving Dawn behind as one of their cows prepared to give birth. In a tender moment, Swede handed Meredith a bouquet of wildflowers for her mother, but her response seemed troubled. She asked her father to kiss her like he kissed her mother, prompting Swede to blow his top and redirect her attention to fixing the strap on her dress, which had slipped down over her shoulder.

As the years tick by, Merry’s rebellious nature only intensifies, her disdain for her parents - particularly Dawn - reaching a fever pitch in the tumultuous mid-to-late 1960s. With no friends to speak of at home, she finds solace in the freedom and anonymity New York City offers on her Saturday excursions. Though Dawn and Swede are oblivious to Merry’s city-dwelling crowd, they continue to grant her permission to roam, as long as she returns by curfew. But one fateful night, Merry fails to materialize, leaving Swede fretting until the last train arrives, with Merry finally reappearing, only to trigger a heated argument that culminates in a police officer ordering Swede’s car to be moved due to the curfew imposed amidst the backdrop of local unrest. The evening’s events are marked by near chaos as Swede narrowly avoids being set upon by a gang of thugs.

The consequences of Merry’s actions soon become apparent, as she loses her privilege to venture into New York City, and her parents are left to grapple with the repercussions. Swede implores Merry to channel her anti-war sentiments locally, but it’s too late; a devastating bomb blast in the local post office claims one life, sending Merry into hiding, and prompting the FBI to launch a manhunt for the elusive teenager.

As Dawn and Swede struggle to come to terms with their daughter’s disappearance, they’re faced with the daunting prospect that she may have been co-opted by the underground movement. Their home is subsequently subjected to a thorough search by federal agents, who uncover incriminating evidence and tap their phone line in case Merry reaches out. But like the wind, Merry has vanished into thin air.

It’s amidst this climate of uncertainty that an enigmatic young woman, introducing herself as Rita Cohen, appears at the factory, feigning interest in the manufacturing process. Swede, ever the gentleman, offers to create a bespoke pair of gloves for her, which she promptly accepts before transforming from a charming guest into a calculating operative, demanding Merry’s treasured Audrey Hepburn scrapbook. As the sun sets on this peculiar encounter, Rita vanishes as quickly as Merry, leaving behind only the faintest whispers of their true intentions.

As Dawn urges Swede to involve the authorities, he remains resolute in his determination to find Merry himself, fueled by a recent revelation that she was spotted at Newark’s train station six months prior. With each passing night, Swede finds himself waiting patiently until the last train, ever hopeful of catching a glimpse of his wayward daughter as she slips away into the shadows.

As the anticipated rendezvous spot approaches, Rita’s reluctance to part with the scrapbook is palpable, but her refusal to disclose Merry’s whereabouts only heightens Swede’s curiosity. A keen observer, he notes that Rita is clad in Merry’s coat, a subtle detail that hints at a deeper narrative beneath the surface. Rita’s vitriolic remarks about Dawn, Merry’s mother, betray a profound disdain, underscoring the toxic dynamics that have defined their relationship.

Meanwhile, Swede remains oblivious to the fact that Dawn has covertly liquidated her assets, leaving her with a meager financial portfolio. A chance discovery in the barn reveals a cryptic note demanding a ransom payment of $10,000 in small bills, with Swede unwittingly being drawn into Rita’s nefarious scheme. Her attempted seduction, promising to reveal Merry’s fate after completing the task, only serves to further enrage him.

As Rita vanishes into thin air, leaving behind a trail of deceit and betrayal, Swede is left reeling from the discovery that she had manipulated him all along. His subsequent contact with the FBI yields little more than a sobering reality check: his failure to notify them earlier has jeopardized their ability to intervene in Merry’s disappearance.

As the search for Merry enters its darkest phase, Dawn succumbs to the crushing weight of her circumstances, precipitating a nervous breakdown that requires hospitalization. Swede remains by her side, buoyed only by his unwavering determination to find his daughter.

In the aftermath of her recovery, Dawn embarks on a quest for self-renewal, opting for plastic surgery in an attempt to recapture the essence of her youth. Her psychiatrist assures Swede that this decision is both normal and necessary, but the consequences prove far more profound. As Dawn drifts away from him, drawn into a vortex of superficial reinvention, Swede is left to confront the bitter reality that their bond has been irreparably strained.

Just when all hope seems lost, an unofficial breakthrough in Merry’s case presents itself. In the heart of Manhattan, Swede spots Rita, and his instincts propel him into action. A fierce confrontation ensues, with Rita eventually revealing that Merry is working at a veterinarian clinic. Her parting words, urging Swede to take care of their daughter as she can no longer bear her presence, serve as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of Rita’s machinations.

As Swede ventures into the dilapidated clinic, a once-familiar destination now shrouded in neglect, he’s met with an unexpected sight: his daughter Merry, unrecognizable beneath a veil of filth and disarray. The girl he once knew is all but gone, replaced by a stranger who seems to have been ravaged by the very essence of time itself. Despite her rough exterior, however, Merry’s eyes betray a glimmer of recognition as she confronts the man who was once her father.

As they tentatively reconnect, Swede is struck by the astonishing absence of Merry’s stutter, a telltale sign of a life forever altered. The truth begins to unravel: Merry has traded in her former identity for that of a Jain, adhering to an obscure Indian faith that rejects the very notion of hygiene as a form of spiritual purification. Her veil serves not only as a physical barrier but also as a means to shield herself from the unforgiving freshness of the world outside.

The tale of Merry’s metamorphosis is one of desperation and resilience: after the bombing, which she reluctantly admits was her doing, she vanished into the underground, assuming new identities with each passing day. The trauma of being relocated from New York to Chicago served as a mere precursor to an even more harrowing experience - the brutal violation that left its indelible mark on her psyche.

Meanwhile, back at home, Swede conducts a subtle experiment by probing Dawn’s sentiments regarding Merry’s potential return. Dawn’s unequivocal dismissal of their daughter’s possibility serves as a stark reminder that she has effectively written Merry off, consigning her to the realm of the improbable. Swede chooses not to enlighten her about his own encounter with their daughter.

Swede returns to Merry, bearing a cache of her belongings as tangible evidence of his commitment. This time, he presses for more information regarding her subsequent bombings, and the answer is a stark 2 - a tally that serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of her actions. Despite his pleas, however, Merry remains steadfast in her refusal to return home, pleading with him not to darken her doorstep again.

Swede’s visits persist over the years, a testament to his unwavering devotion, until finally, he succumbs to the very fabric of time itself. It is at his graveside service, as mourners begin to disperse, that Merry reappears - resplendent in attire more befitting a conventionally dressed individual, yet still shrouded in an aura of mystery.

As Dawn stands frozen in disbelief, her gaze locked onto the figure of their daughter, it becomes clear that the past is forever intertwined with the present, and that Swede’s quest for redemption has ultimately yielded a bittersweet reconciliation.