JEREMY

US, 1973, 90 minutes, Colour.
Robby Benson, Glynnis O' Connor.
Directed by Arthur Barron.

Jeremy shows the love story lasts forever; but the 70s have explored and exploited it and given us a wide range of likely and unlikely twosomes. Jeremy's falling in love takes us to early adolescence and, while the plot is contrived and predictable (probably too much so), it catches a lot of the atmosphere of teenage romanticising about love and sex (within the atmosphere of the permissive 70s.) Jeremy is bespectacled, shy and tongue-tied. The girl is quiet, shy and lonely. The detail of school life is genuine and full of humour and pathos, the growth in affection, shared interest and communication is convincing. An enjoyable film, useful for teenage discussion.

1. For what audience was this made? Was this evident from the style, theme, tone?

2. The use of colour, New York backgrounds, the songs? The slow introductions during the credits? the lyrics of the songs and their placement as comment on themes?

3. How real did the characters and crises seem? How much was the kind of adolescent fantasy that Jeremy and Susan went on with? How genuine was the response of the audience to each of these characters?

4. How did the film focus on Jeremy? His awakening at the opening, a boy, his age, the value of his music, his knowledge and love of horses, playing basketball, friendship with Ralph, his relationship with his parents, especially at the dinner scene, his music teacher and friendship, the discussion about skill, inspiration and ambition? How credible a boy of his age was he? How likeable?

5. Jeremy's loneliness: How was this emphasised? Explored? The nature of his ambitions? His music? The music as a symbol of his aspirations? The peace at the concert a symbol of love and parting? His disbelief in the fact that people could love him?

6. Susan: how attractive a character? Seeing her at her dancing practice? Coming upon her like Jeremy? Her relationship with her father, the background of Detroit, her explanation of her growing up? The nature of her loneliness? Her capacity for friendship, but her lacking friends, e.g. in the canteen? Her plain way of speaking and her commonsense? How likeable and attractive a girl? How credible a girl of her age?

7. Their discussion about fate. How real was the working of fate? The influence of Ralph? The concert and Susan's response to Jeremy's playing? The arranging of dates? The enjoyment of each other's company? The depth of talk? Their capacity for sharing feelings and ideas? Their visit to watching the horses train? The chess-playing?

8. Was the sexual culmination of their relationship credible? Prepared for? The effect on each? Real love?

9. The film's insight into love? Whether it has to be spoken, how much it has to be shown? The impact and effect of love on young people? First love?

10. The film's insight into youth, growth, the capacity for hurt, separation etc.?

11. The news about the return to Detroit and its impact? Coming after the sexual culmination, the background of social chatter? Susan's song? The contrast of the moods with Jeremy's happiness and Susan's sadness?

12. The importance of Ralph in the film? Friendship for Jeremy, his forwardness, as an outlet for Jeremy to talk to, the final phone call?

13. How credible was the parting? The impact on each of them? The way they coped? The comment of Susan's father and elder sister? Was this sentimental or well-handled?

14. The film's exploration of the perennial questions about youth growing up and life?