JACKNIFE

US, 1989, 102 minutes, Colour.
Robert de Niro, Ed Harris, Kathy Baker.
Directed by David Jones.

Jacknife is an arresting film and a moving one about Vietnam veterans and their having to adjust to ordinary life. In the late '70s there were the famous films about Vietnam: Deer Hunter, Coming Home, Apocalypse Now, as well as many others. It was an opportunity, somewhat belated, for the American film industry to look at Vietnam and its impact on the nation. In the late '80s, films are still being made, as this one, trying to see the justice and the injustice done to the Vietnam veterans.

The screenplay was written by Steven Metcalfe from his play, Strange Snows.(Metcalfe was the author of the screenplay of the adaptation of Cousin Cousine, Cousins). The film was directed by theatre director David Jones, who made 84 Charing Cross Road.

However, the strength of the film is in the credible performances by the stars Robert de Niro, Ed Harris and Kathy Baker, who appeared to effect as the prostitute in Street Smart. They work excellently together and the audience is involved in their interactions.

The film is set in the American mid-West, ordinary America, which has had to cope with the Vietnam veterans and their traumas.

1. The impact of the film as a drama, the theme of the Vietnam veterans, audience emotional involvement and understanding?

2. The Midwestern setting, the small town and the details? The flashbacks to action in Vietnam? The score and its moods and emotions?

3. The title of the original play, Strange Snows? The focus on Joseph and the nickname for his character as Jacknife, sharp, brittle, violent - as well as his ability to drive cars and trucks and jacknife them? The positive side and his impact on David and Martha?

4. The origins of the screenplay in stage drama: characters, speeches, situations, emotions, the dramatising of trauma and therapy sessions, the resolution? Opened out for film purposes?

5. The introduction with Joseph waking up, driving, loud, the house, Martha's suspicious reactions, David and his hangover, the clash with Joseph, the challenge for the fishing, Martha deciding to go, the beer for breakfast, David and his information about Joseph, hostility, the big breakfast and Joseph's charm with Shirley, the baits, the fishing,-Martha catching the fish, the fall in the water, wet and going home? The effect of that day?

6. Robert de Niro's tour de force performance as Joseph: wild, appearance, his impact on David and Martha, David refusing the friendship, the fishing, the breakfast and his enjoying eating, his work with cars and his ability to fix them, with the men at the car repairs? Martha's visit, going with her to have a drink, the growing bond between the two, the good manners and the restaurant, the meal out, Martha's concern about David and asking who Bobby was? The drive to the memorial and Joseph's memories, Bobby's death, coming to rescue him? Dave's telling him not to go? His pursuing Dave, in the truck and driving with him, urging him to play basketball but overdoing it, bumping into him, the importance of the speeding driving and David's fear? Persuading him to go to the therapy session but David's leaving? Joseph's pursuit of him, going home and the growing bond with Martha, the soup, the kiss, his smashing the window but offering to pay, the history of violence but his change? Tenderness with Martha, staying the night. Her telling the story of the first sexual encounter? The invitation for her to take her to the prom, the way that he decided, the comedy of his going to the shop, measurements, the revealing of him changed, shoes and trousers, band and coat, the beard and the haircut, the moustache? His charm, taking Martha to the prom as a Prince Charming and a princess, meeting people, his raucous stories, the exhilaration of getting Martha to dance? David's Confrontation? Joseph's response in the hallway, the truth about Bobby? Going home, drinking the brandy, Joseph's concern to search for David, David's return, the power of the emotional truth in David admitting what had happened, Joseph's ability to draw him out? David and his expression of Bobby's hopes for them all? And the going fishing? Joseph's decision to leave and Martha's comment, 'Mission accomplished'? Driving away, thinking about the effect on their return, the effect of the woman in their lives? The audience willing him to stop and return? His stopping, Martha coming to the door. the trauma over for David and himself? Joseph's journey in life from the bikie at the prom, fights, jacknifing trucks, Vietnam and his angers, the experience of Vietnam, the death, going to therapy, working, praying instead of hanging himself, helping others, owning himself, the love of Martha?

7. David and his hangover, gone to fat, refusing to respond, declining friendship, using Martha, drinking, the going fishing, antagonism towards Joseph? At work, his meals at home, his mother leaving him? Martha as servant and her attack? The drive with Joseph, the basketball and his momentary coming to life, the injury, his fear with Joseph speeding? Listening to the therapy group and walking out? The sadness of his visit to Bobby's parents, wanting to do the work for him? His sorrow and anger with Martha? Drinking, his attack on the young man and wanting him to take off the army trousers? Drinking and remembering Vietnam? His fear? Mocking Martha about the prom? Going to the school, smashing the trophies? The confrontation with Joseph, the truth? Drive, the authentic sorrow and reconciliation, being free to talk, about Bobby, about himself, explaining the nicknames to Martha and the hopes for after the war? His decision to go back to the group and to speak freely about his traumas?

8. Martha and her life, school, serving David, the mother going to Florida, the hostility to Joseph, but challenged by him, going fishing, amazement at the breakfast, the fish, wet? David's warnings about Joseph, her asking about Bobby, the visit to the memorial, going out for the coffee, the beer. the meals, the effect on her? The soup, her fear about the kiss, in bed, telling Joseph the story (and meeting the teacher at the prom)? The clash with David about the prom, her happiness, the dress, the exhilaration of the dancing? The response to David's outburst? The brandy. her waiting in the house? Seeing Joseph go, mission achieved? His going, her being alone, the importance of his return?

9. Vietnam trauma, the sessions and therapy?

10. The sketch of Bobby, his going to save Joseph, his death?

11. The pathos of the scene with his parents, their grief, their support of David?

12. The diner, Shirley and her response to Joseph eating the breakfast? The men at work? The people at school. the youngsters at the prom?

13. Memories of the Vietnam war, dramatising of the violence, trauma and coping?

14. The continued theme for American society?

15. The importance of relationships, the transformation in an ordinary man, his ability to save another and heal?