A SOLDIER’S DAUGHTER NEVER CRIES

US, 1998, 127 minutes, Colour.
Kris Kristofferson, Barbara Hershey, Leelee Sobieski, Jane Birkin, Dominique Blanc, Jesse Bradford, Harley Cross, Isaach De Bankole, Macha Meril, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Virginie Ledoyen.
Directed by James Ivory.

A Soldier’s Daughter never cries is based on a novel by Kaylie Jones, daughter of novelist James Jones. It is a thinly disguised autobiography and biography of her parents. James Jones was celebrated for such novels as From Here to Eternity and Some Came Running, both filmed in the 1950s (From Here to Eternity later being made a miniseries) and for The Thin Red Line, filmed in the late 90s.

Jones spent several decades in Paris, writing. This film spends a great deal of its time on the life of the Jones family in Paris (here called Willis), and the relationship between Kris Kristofferson as the novelist and Barbara Hershey as his wife. The film also shows the adoption of a young boy, his mother played by Virginie Ledoyen.

The focus of the film was also on the daughter, played with verve by Leelee Sobieski. When the two children become teenagers, their father decides, because of his ill health, to return to the United States. They find the transition to life and school in the United States very difficult.

The film is a character portrayal, although the emphasis is given to the children, and to the young man, played by Jesse Bradford as a teenager.

There is a subplot between Dominique Blanc as the family’s maid and nanny and a genial African, played by Isaach De Bankole.

The film is a focus on parenting in the 1960s and 1970s, a more freewheeling moral attitude on the part of the parents, a resignation that children are going to behave, especially as regards sexuality, with a certain permissiveness and that it is better to allow this and to supervise it. Whether this has a good effect on the young girl the film leaves open.

The film was made by the Merchant Ivory company, with Ivory co-writing the screenplay with regular screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. While the Merchant Ivory team made many films in India in the 1960s and 70s, they are more famous from the re-creation of the novels of Henry James and E.M. Forster in the 80s and 90s.

1. The work of James Jones as a novelist, his career, this film and the novel on which it is based as a memoir? The title, Bill Willis and his comment for Channe, advising her for courage and endurance?

2. The tradition of American writers living in France, the expatriates, the bohemian style, memories of the 1920s? James Jones working in post-war France? The life of the novelist, his family, children, schools, writing, social life? Over a period of twenty years?

3. France, the atmosphere, the city of Paris, domestic, official, costumes and décor?

4. The United States locations, the contrast with France, the 70s, homes, schools, ordinary life?

5. The structure of the film, the three stories and the headings, Billy, Francis, Daddy?

6. American standards, moral values, open, the issue of adoption, the issue of freedoms, moral code, concern, sexuality?

7. The prologue, the young woman in the window, the pregnancy, her writing the journal, the birth of her son? As a mother, giving up the boy? Her life, the later flashbacks, the relationship, the divorce? Her age, the father, their clashes? The orphanage? The issues of adoption, documentation, her looking out the window at her son, detached from him, giving the journal for the boy to read?

8. Bill and his wife, the bonds between them, their life in France, his writing and success, the social worker bringing the boy, his arrival, the different languages, Channe and her hostility? Benoit and his changing his name to Billy? The gifts, the box, Channe dropping it? The expensive gifts and Benoit not being used to them? Deedee and her work in the house, devotion to Channe, hostile to Billy? His awkwardness and accidents?

9. Billy, in the household, his wetting the bed, Channe and her kindness towards him, the bond between the two? The attention of the parents? Gifts, clothes, going out, the scenes at the beach, at school?

10. Channe and the two being older, at school, her forging her father’s signature, his stern rebuke, her promise not to do this again? Her self-assertion, growing up, at school, her friends, at home? Her friendship with Francis? The nature of the friendship, sitting next to each other in class, her angers at Francis, sharing culture, poetry, the opera, the visits and Francis’ raucous behaviour, Deedee and her hostility? Going into Channe’s room, Deedee wanting her privacy? Her discussions about issues with her father?

11. Billy, his age, friendship with Francis, at school, relationships, his mother concerned about him? His being introspective?

12. The portrait of Francis and his eccentricities, his age, at school, flamboyant clothes, manner, classes and his behaviour, the reaction of the teachers? His falsetto voice, his mother playing the piano? The opera, his operatic behaviour, knowledge of opera, his declaration of love for Channe?

13. Francis’ mother, also flamboyant, not able to pay the fees, arriving at the school, accompanying Francis with his singing, at the opera?

14. Candida, her place in the family, the devoted maid, her care for Channe, her criticisms of Billy? Her relationship with Mamadou, the outings together, enjoying each other’s company, the relationship, her turning him down after his proposal?

15. The family’s decision to return to the US, Bill’s health, the farewells, Marcella and her not wanting to return, her worry, drinking? Her care of Channe? Her pregnancy, love, the stillbirth? Billy and his indolence, sitting in front of the TV? Bill and his writing, wanting to finish the book? His talk, concern about the family, his collapse, hospital, his death, the funeral? Channe at school, sexual relationships, friends, her reputation? Going to the football, seeing Keith? Keith and his defence of Billy and the fight, Billy taunted as a frog? The bullying? Keith and his friendship with Channe?

16. Channe, going out with Keith, the date, Keith’s courtesy as regards the family, permissions, driving, the sexual relationship, their discussions with Bill and Marcella, allowing the relationship in the house?

17. Billy, memories of his mother, antagonism towards her, not wanting to read her journal, opening it, a boy of moods?

18. The New Year’s Day party, allowing Channe to go, dressing up, her mother accusing her of being selfish, driving, at the party, her phone call?

19. Bill, his death, his achievement?

20. The portrait of a genial author and his faults, the portrait of the wife and the story of their courtship, marriage? Their life together? The younger generations – and the future?