Palindromes 2005

In this loose sequel to Welcome to the Dollhouse, set nine years after the original story, the film opens with the somber occasion of Dawn Weiner’s funeral, who was a key character in the previous narrative. The spotlight shifts to Aviva, Dawn’s 13-year-old cousin, who grapples with the shock of her cousin’s suicide, struggling to understand why Dawn would take such a drastic step over an unwanted pregnancy. In stark contrast to Dawn’s situation, Aviva harbors a desperate desire to become pregnant herself.

Soon after, Aviva encounters a family friend named Judah, who is unexpectedly eager to engage in a sexual relationship with her. However, the consequences of this encounter become devastating when, a month later, Aviva’s parents discover she is pregnant. In a horrified reaction, they force her to undergo an abortion, a procedure that not only terminates the pregnancy but also leaves Aviva sterile, a fact only known to her parents. Unable to cope with the reality of her life, Aviva takes to the streets, driven by her quest to find a new potential father for her child.

Her journey leads her to a truck driver named Bob, who shows a willingness to be intimate with her despite her age. Unfortunately, Bob abandons her at a motel, leaving Aviva to fend for herself. She eventually wanders into a nearby forest, where she is discovered by a boy who introduces her to the Sunshine Family Home—a foster care facility run by fundamentalist Christian extremists.

As Aviva settles into her new surroundings, she uncovers the disturbing truth that the family operates as a domestic terrorist group, specializing in the assassination of abortion doctors. To her horror, she learns that the hitman they employ is none other than Bob, the same truck driver who left her behind.

Driven by a mix of desperation and loyalty, Aviva decides to assist Bob on a mission that culminates in tragedy when, during an assassination attempt, Bob inadvertently kills the doctor’s young daughter before ultimately taking the doctor’s life. In the ensuing chaos, police confront Aviva and Bob at another motel, leading to a heartbreaking conclusion where Bob takes his own life in a confrontation with law enforcement.

The film then fast-forwards to one year later, where Aviva celebrates her 14th birthday. She finds herself in conversation with Mark Weiner, Dawn’s older brother, who has faced accusations of molestation. Mark shares his grim outlook on life, suggesting that regardless of the circumstances, people don’t fundamentally change.

Later on, Aviva reconnects with Judah, who has adopted the name Otto. Despite everything that has transpired, the two engage once again in a sexual relationship. The film closes mournfully yet poignantly, echoing its beginning as Aviva expresses her hope of one day having a child, completely unaware of the irreversible truth of her sterility. As the story unfolds, it reveals the struggles of youth, the consequences of choices, and a harrowing journey through both personal and societal challenges.