Drama
United States of America
The Poker House is a 2008 drama film directed by Lori Petty and starring Jennifer Lawrence. Set in a small Iowa town in the 1970s, the film follows Agnes (Lawrence) and her sisters Cammie and Bee as they navigate their daily lives in a home that has become a hub for gamblers, thieves, and prostitution.
Agnes is a teenage girl who dreams of leaving her troubled home and pursuing a career as a writer. Her mother, Sarah, is a drug-addicted prostitute who allows her home to become a safe haven for a variety of unsavory characters. These include the girls' abusive stepfather and a local pimp named Duval who is in love with Sarah.
Throughout the film, Agnes and her sisters try to maintain a sense of normalcy in their chaotic world. They attend school, spend time with friends, and celebrate Bee's birthday. But as the night wears on, the reality of their situation becomes clearer. Duval forces Sarah to leave town with him, Cammie is sexually assaulted by one of the house's regulars, and Agnes is forced to confront her own trauma at the hands of her stepfather.
Despite the film's heavy subject matter, it is ultimately a story of resilience, hope, and the power of sisterhood. Agnes and her sisters may be dealt a difficult hand in life, but they refuse to be defined by their circumstances. The Poker House is a raw and emotional portrayal of one family's struggle to survive in a world that is often cruel and unforgiving.
