KOTCH

US, 1971, 114 minutes, Colour.
Walter Matthau, Deborah Winters, Felicia Farr.
Directed by Jack Lemmon.

Kotch is a more recent film that reminds audiences of the old Hollywood sentiment. What saves the film and makes it worth seeing and discussing is the performance by Walter Matthau (Oscar Nomination, 1971), as a 72 year old grandfather who loves his grandchild, talks a lot and whose memory is not as clear as it used to be. The film deals with old age and its problems and raises a number of questions, especially as old Kotch is so loveable for the audience but not so easy to put up with for his daughter-in-law.

Kotch saves himself from an old people's home by befriending a pregnant teenager and helping her to prepare for the birth of the baby. Although he fusses, he has something to do and is appreciated for it. The film doesn't have any real solutions for the problem of old age, but it shows us some of the problems.

This is Jack Lemmon's debut as a film director. It marked a continued popularity for Walter Matthau as an actor.

1. What was the basic theme of this film? How did the credit sequences of grandfather and grandson and theme song set the atmosphere for the film?

2. Was Kotch a sympathetic character? Why?

3. Kotch was 72 years old. How did Walter Matthau's performance convey the way old men act and talk?

4. What were the main things in Kotch's life? Why did he love his grandson so much?

5. Why did Kotch annoy Wilma so much? Whose fault was it? Should Kotch have been more perceptive? Should Wilma have been more patient?

6. The film showed everything from Kotch's point of view. Did this slant the audience's sympathy too much? Even though his constant talking was boring, we found it entertaining. We were on his side concerning the incident in the park. How successful was the film in helping us to understand old peoples' way of thinking and acting? (Note the flashbacks of memory and their impact.)

7. Did Wilma and Gerald have the right to put Kotch in the Old Peoples' home? (Was this caricatured too much?)

8. Was Gerald a strong or a weak man? Why?

9. How important to the plot was Kotch's awareness of Erica and her boyfriend on the couch? Why was he indignant? Why was he forgiving?

10. What really impelled Kotch to seek out Erica and settle in Palm Springs? What did he want to do for her? Why?

11. What hope did Kotch's attention give to Erica? How did the film build up their relationship by human details e.g. the dolls, the lecture from the nurse?

12. Did you hope Erica would have the baby adopted? Why? Did she behave sensibly during the pregnancy?

13. Was the garage delivery of the baby too melodramatic? What did it add to the film?

14. Was Erica's final tribute to Kotch too sentimental or was it appropriate for the film?

15. How did Erica’s pregnancy give new life to Kotch? What does an old mm need to help keep him alive and alert?

16. Should he have gone back home with Gerald and Wilma? Why?

17. What did the film have to say about old age, youth, middle age, tolerance, understanding, meaning to life?