Jolene

Jolene

Year: 2008

Runtime: 121 mins

Language: English

Director: Dan Ireland

DramaMoving relationship storiesErotic relationships and desireEmotional teen coming-of-age storiesChallenging or sexual themes & twists

A life between the exit signs. A teenage orphan spends ten years traveling to experience life.

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Timeline & Setting – Jolene (2008)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Jolene (2008). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

South Carolina, Arizona, Las Vegas, Tulsa, Los Angeles

The story unfolds across multiple American locations, beginning in South Carolina where Jolene's foster-care world and a juvenile institution shape her early life. It then travels through Arizona's desert towns, the glitzy backdrop of Las Vegas, Tulsa's midwestern milieu, and finally the creative hustle of Los Angeles. Each setting exposes Jolene to different power structures, temptations, and dangers, reflecting a life lived on the edge of mainstream society.

🇺🇸 United States 🚗 Road Trip

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:06

Main Characters – Jolene (2008)

Meet the key characters of Jolene (2008), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jolene (Jessica Chastain)

A fiercely artistic survivor who refuses to be defined by the men who abuse or use her. Her journey through foster care, detention, and a string of relationships shows both her vulnerability and her stubborn resilience. Jolene channels her trauma into drawings and murals, dreaming of a brighter future as an actress and artist.

🎨 Art 🧭 Identity 💪 Resilience 🗺️ Journey

Uncle Phil (Dermot Mulroney)

A married man who manipulates Jolene, arouses himself in secret, and fuels a dangerous affair. His charm masks predatory impulses and a willingness to break boundaries for desire. His actions catalyze Jolene's most painful losses and ultimate attempts to escape.

🔥 Power 💔 Abuse 🕳️ Deception

Cindy (Frances Fisher)

A closeted lesbian psychiatric nurse who becomes involved with Jolene. She offers fragile support and risks revealing her own desires in the process. Cindy's care and flawed judgment both aid Jolene's escape and complicate her already dangerous life.

🌈 LGBTQ+ 🩺 Care 🗝️ Escape

Sal Fontaine (Chazz Palminteri)

A mobster who showers Jolene with luxury before a sudden death plunges her back into danger. He embodies wealth and power that corrupts, drawing Jolene into a glamorous yet perilous orbit. His death triggers a new chapter of fugitiveness and risk.

💎 Crime 💼 Wealth 🗝️ Influence

Coco Leger (Rupert Friend)

An aspiring musician and tattoo artist who offers Jolene a passionate, volatile romance. His cocaine addiction and illegal deals reveal a world of glamour intertwined with danger. The relationship ends with deception and a violent confrontation that reshapes Jolene's path.

🎸 Music 💊 Addiction 🕳️ Crime

Marin (Denise Richards)

Coco's wife who arrives with her own claims and a baby, complicating Jolene's love life and sense of belonging. Marin's presence introduces a rival family dynamic and the stakes of trust within relationships. Her appearance intensifies Jolene's sense of competition and betrayal.

👩‍👧‍👦 Rival 🥂 Complex relationships 🧭 Ambition

Brad Benton (Michael Vartan)

A privileged, controlling suitor who rapes Jolene and questions her past. His arrogance and entitlement escalate the danger Jolene faces in intimate relationships. The fallout includes a brutal turn in their marriage and a fight to protect her child.

💰 Privilege 🗣️ Control ⚡ Aggression

Brad Jr. (Avi Angel)

The infant son of Jolene and Brad, a tangible reminder of the consequences of Jolene's relationships. His presence anchors the drama in family and responsibility, even as Jolene chooses distance to protect him. The baby becomes a focal point in Jolene's ongoing struggle for safety and autonomy.

👶 Baby 🧸 Innocence

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:06

Major Themes – Jolene (2008)

Explore the central themes of Jolene (2008), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪪 Identity

Jolene continually reinvents herself to survive: a runaway, a wife, a sex worker, a tattoo artist, and an aspiring actress. The film follows how she defines and redefines who she is in response to abuse, stigma, and confinement. Each change reveals how art and self-expression become tools for agency. The theme highlights resilience through personal reinvention.

🕊️ Freedom

The narrative traces Jolene's attempts to escape oppressive power—whether from a cruel foster system, a controlling husband, or a criminal underworld. Freedom is achieved in fits and starts, often paid for with danger and loss. The story suggests that true liberty comes from breaking cycles and choosing one's own path.

💔 Trauma

Repeated violence and exploitation leave lasting scars, yet Jolene's artistry and relationships hint at recovery. The film charts how trauma influences trust, sexuality, and self-worth, while also showing moments of solidarity and care, especially with Cindy. The arc emphasizes both the pain and the fragile hope of healing.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:06

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Jolene Summary

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Jolene Summary

Jolene Timeline

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Jolene Timeline

Jolene Spoiler-Free Summary

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Jolene Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Jolene

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