Plot
In 2015, Tifani "Ani" Fanelli, a respected New York women's magazine editor, appears to have a picture-perfect life. As she prepares to marry her fiancé Luke Harrison, Ani meets with Aaron Wickersham, a documentary director who is making a short film about a 1999 school shooting she survived as a teenager. Aaron tells Ani that a former classmate, Dean Barton, who became a successful writer and advocate for gun control, has agreed to take part, though Ani declines to be involved.
Luke informs Ani that his firm has offered him a job opportunity in London and suggests that she should take a MFA program there to allow her to write. Ani agrees, despite having hopes of someday working at The New York Times . They later have dinner with a couple Luke knows; the husband turns out to be Ani's former teacher, Andrew Larson.
In a series of flashbacks, Ani is seen joining the prestigious Brentley School, where she quickly befriends a clique of popular students, including Dean and his friends Liam and Peyton. It is revealed that Ani was gang-raped at a party by all three boys while intoxicated. Ani shared what happened with headmaster Mr. Larson, who encourages Ani to tell her eccentric mother, Dina, but Ani refuses. However, Ani tells her friend Arthur who had been continuously bullied by the three boys.
Ani's past slowly begins to haunt her, affecting her relationship with Luke. Aaron tells Ani that Dean wants to meet with her to apologize on camera; she agrees under the condition that Aaron keeps them separate until she is ready. Meanwhile, Ani struggles with her strained relationship with Dina, who claims she always found Ani difficult and alludes that she is only marrying Luke for money.
At the documentary filming, Dean shows up unexpectedly early, causing Ani flees in a panic. Further flashbacks reveal that Ani has been struggling to deal with the trauma of what happened. The school shooting takes place not long after, perpetrated by Arthur and his friend Ben. Peyton and Liam are killed, and Dean is wounded severely and left unable to walk. Prior to the funerals, Dean started a rumor that Ani slept with him and helped Arthur and Ben plan the shooting. supposedly, this was because he did not want to be her boyfriend. Ani is consequently shunned by everyone, including Dina, who blames Ani for causing her own rape by drinking and partying excessively.
At a presentation of his new book, Ani meets with Dean, who shows little remorse for what he did and threatens to recapitulate his story of her participation in the shooting if she tells anyone. However, after being pressed by her during the conversation, Dean admits he raped her. Having secretly recorded their conversation, Ani leaves and decides to share her experience after encouragement from her boss and ends up writing a piece for The New York Times.
At their rehearsal dinner, Ani receives the final article, which is about to be published, much to Luke's dismay, who says he wishes she had dealt with it privately. Ani then admits she has been using him to hide from her past, so decides not to marry Luke. Ani finally begins to move on; she receives an overwhelming reaction from other women who tell her their own stories of sexual assault, as she begins her career at The New York Times.
Production
In August 2015, it was announced Lionsgate had acquired film rights to Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll, with Reese Witherspoon set to produce under her Pacific Standard banner. [2] It was scrapped, however, due to scheduling conflicts and poor budgeting. In February 2021, it was announced the film would be happening with Mila Kunis starring and Mike Barker set to direct. Netflix was to distribute. [3] In July 2021, Finn Wittrock, Scoot McNairy, Chiara Aurelia, Thomas Barbusca, Justine Lupe, Dalmar Abuzied, Alex Barone, Carson MacCormac, Jennifer Beals, and Connie Britton joined the cast. [4]
Principal photography began June 2021 in Toronto, Canada, and ended in September 2021 in New York City, USA. [5] Filming locations included the cities of Whitby and Cobourg in Ontario, Canada, and Shelter Island, New York, USA. [6]
