JUMP TOMORROW
UK, 2001, 95 minutes, Colour
Kaili Vernoff, Jim J. Bullock, Tunde Adebimpe, Natalia Verbeke, Hyppolite Girardot, James Wilby, Patricia Mauceri.
Directed by Joel Hopkins
Jump Tomorrow was made by Britain's Channel Four, although it is set in New York and New York State. The focus is on a young, very awkward, bureaucratic Nigerian who works in New York City. He has to go to Buffalo to be married to a schooldays' friend, an arranged marriage by his uncle. He goes to the airport on the wrong day and misses his fiancee. However, he encounters a vivacious young Latin- American woman who, on the spur of the moment, invites him to a party. He also encounters a desolate Frenchman who has been jilted by his girlfriend. They go to the party, the Frenchman offers to drive the Nigerian to Buffalo for his wedding - but they detour on the way to visit the girl's family. The scenes with the family are an exuberant interlude in the journey of the young man and he also is transformed, realising that he is in love with the girl. The Frenchman is attracted to her mother, especially as they work so well together in the kitchen.
The young man arrives at his wedding, goes up the aisle, but when objections are asked for, he adjourns with her to the confessional and they agree that they will not marry. He hurries to the Canadian border and encounters the girl just in time. The title of the film comes from advice given by the Nigerian to the Frenchman who is contemplating suicide on the top of a building - "You can always jump tomorrow".
1. An engaging film? Interesting and attractive characters? Their quests?
2. The meaning of the title - George quoting it to Gerard about jumping from the building tomorrow? Gerard quoting it to George about marrying?
3. British production, American settings, New York City, airport, workplace? The party? The road to Niagara Falls, the open spaces, the highway, the service stations? The Spanish home? The church? The border? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score?
4. George as the central characters, his Nigerian background, rather uptight in his manner, literally buttoned up? At work, not hearing people talk, lacking a sense of humour? Going to the airport to meet his fiancee, waiting, the flowers, a day late? Gerard and his upset, the support that George gave him? The embrace, the flowers? Getting the lift? Explaining himself to Gerard? The decision to invite Gerard to the party? Their going, the importance of the airport meeting with Alysha, lending her the pen, the encounter, the card, seeing her at the party, her fiance, her urging him to dance? His falling in love with her? Gerard on the roof, George helping him to come down - jump tomorrow? Gerard and the offer to drive him to Niagara Falls, his reluctance, the acceptance? On the road, hoping to meet Alysha? The stopovers, seeing Alysha and Nick, following the truck, picking them up? The conversation, the mishaps with the front seat? The comic touches? The blow-out, the rain? George and his telling Alysha about his wedding? Gerard interrogating him and his explanation of the arranged marriage, childhood friends? Love not being everything? Delivering Alysha home, the welcome by Consuelo, staying, George and the old grandfather, learning the dance beat by beating on his heart, the red shirt, the dinner? Dancing? His happiness? Going to the church, changing, going up the aisle, wanting to speak Spanish, taking time out with Sophie in the confessional, their emerging, declaring that they did not want to be married? His going to the border, calling out to Alysha that he loved her, explaining in the phone box that he wasn't married? A future? A rounded character, an interior introverted man, coming out of himself, discovering himself?
5. The contrast with Gerard, at the airport, his girlfriend breaking off and going home, his despair, in the toilet, grieving, George's support? His mood changes, driving George home, going to the party, enjoying it? His offer to drive George to Niagara Falls, their conversations in the car? Their meeting with Nick and Alysha? The night at the hotel, the Romeo and Juliet room, the salesgirls and the leather products, George and his awkwardness with the girl coming to his room? Gerard wanting to introduce jealousy into his strategy for winning over Alysha? Gerard and his cooking, the kitchen, getting to work, Consuelo tasting the mousse, the toast at dinner, the dancing? His bringing her breakfast, her urging him not to rush? A future?
6. Alysha, at the airport, impulsive, Hispanic? The pen, the card for the party? Her arrangements with Nick, going to Canada? Her friendship with George, getting him to dance? On the road with Nick, Nick and his talk, his video camera? His meditation? His disdain of Hispanic television soap operas - and the contrast with George liking them and imagining himself and Alysha and Nick in them? On the road, at the hotel, in the car, the lack of real warmth between Alysha and Nick? Arriving home, his videoing, Consuelo not picking him as Nick? The dare and his eating the hot food, having to lie down, the young sister doing a rap for him? Going to the border - and being left? Alysha, at home, the attraction towards George, his declaration of love, her not crossing the border, going to a future with him?
7. Consuelo, mother, widow, the kitchen, welcoming everyone, the joyful house - serious discussions with Gerard and a future with him?
8. A film of ordinary people, chance encounters, their interactions? Quests? Love and marriage?
