Jane Fonda in Five Acts, directed by Susan Lacy - 8 out of 10

Jane Fonda in Five Acts, directed by Susan Lacy
8 out of 10


They would surely make a motion picture based on the life of the stupendous actress, determined activist, astute campaigner for women's rights Jane Fonda.

However, this is a documentary that looks at the life of this wonderful character.
Being the daughter of the Giant Henry Fonda has been counterintuitively an unlucky destiny and not the blessing one would suppose.

Henry Fonda has been a Titan, a legend of cinema, but as a father he has been a failure.
Indeed, someone says in this film - I think it was the son of the heroine - that Jane Fonda has been practically an orphan.
Her mother would have serious issues, ultimately killing herself in a horrific, ghastly manner, by slicing her throat.

The father would neglect his children, packing them away to boarding school and engaging in a relationship with another young woman.
Jane's and Peter's mother would be devastated by this infidelity and would lose her mind.

Henry Fonda would the marry for the third time, ending up with five marriages if I am not wrong.
In Paris, Jane Fonda would meet the famous womanizer, who has had affairs with Brigitte Bardot and other celebrities, Roger Vadim.

She is seduced by this important French director, who is casting her in Barbarella, a science fiction yarn that was not very appreciated.
They marry and this relationship ends when the American feels the need to return to her home country and fight for the causes which animated so many young people , especially the Vietnam war.

It could be argued that she goes to far when she travels to Hanoi, at the heart of a communist regime - I lived under such a system and I am biased - I hate communists and their enablers and sympathizers.
A photo of the activist near a North Vietnamese piece of artillery that was supposed to be used against her compatriots causes outrage.

Nevertheless, the film she makes on the saga of the Vietnam war and the returning veterans is phenomenal:

Coming Home, with Jon Voigt and Bruce Dern

To finance her political activities, the very active woman makes a video about working out which has sold a record of copies.
Jane Fonda stars in The China Syndrome, together with the superb Jack Lemmon in the other leading role and Michael Douglas as a supporting character.

The China Syndrome highlights the dangers posed by nuclear power stations and we now have the terrible experience of Chernobyl and Fukushima.
As her father is reaching a very old age, Jane Fonda buys the rights and produces a masterpiece:

On Golden Pond

This is the occasion when she is reconciled with the patriarch, the story in the film mirroring what happened in real life.

Finally, Jane Fonda takes another outre decision, marrying the media tycoon Ted Turner.
Apparently,  you could not find two people that could be more different.

I do not believe that opposites attract, good relationships are actually based on common interests, shared views.
Anyway, it worked in this case.

At least for about ten years.

Jane Fonda has not stopped, she is still acting, albeit we have not seen a Golden Pond recently.
And she is supporting women's causes with great energy.

She is a role model - albeit she has not been such a great mother, in her own words - and a Wonder Woman.