Patty's is one of the most fascinating and extraordinary stories of our violent times. A pity it's made such a boring film. Hard to see what director Paul Schrader could have done, apart from not stylising the bank robberies involved, presumably to eliminate vicarious excitement. Well, we could have done with some vicarious excitement to liven up the re-telling of the story of rich, young and pretty Patty's kidnap and brainwashing by an obscure liberation army who seem to do little apart from indoctrinate their members, think about robberies to raise money, and have sex with each other. Schrader's liking for darkened rooms and nighttime scenes ensures that we can grasp details of the squalid saga only by aural contact with the screenplay, which consists mainly of four-letter words. Natasha Richardson, looking exactly like mum Vanessa Redgrave, puts heart and soul into Patty and is the only thing that comes close to holding the movie together. Great American accent too, Natasha; shame about the film.

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