THE GUYS

US, 2002, 84 minutes, Colour.
Sigourney Weaver, Anthony La Paglia.
Directed by Jim Simpson.

The Guys is clearly based on a play. It was written in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 by Anne Nelson and performed by Sigourney Weaver and Bill Murray. Sigourney Weaver reprises her role here but is joined by Anthony La Paglia. They work very well together because the film is basically a two-hander, conversations between Joan, a letter-writer and journalist, and Nick, the leader of a squad of firemen who is commissioned to give eulogies at their funerals.

The film focuses on the two characters, especially in long takes on their faces, also with a number of pauses to allow the audience to absorb what the characters are feeling as well as be conscious of what they are feeling themselves.

The film was a New York story, a lot of comment being made about the city, its life and what it suffered. There are other people in the background of the film, especially Joan’s sister, her husband and family. There is also a sequence in a church at the end for the final eulogy.

The film is movingly written. It employs the device of some of Joan’s writings appearing in text on the screen. The texts for her eulogies are read out aloud by Anthony La Paglia. This gives the opportunity for the audience to have some variation in just simply watching two characters but also an opportunity to appreciate the words. The attempt is to make the firemen who have died good human beings, not on a pedestal, but acknowledging their flaws. The film is humane in the four characters chosen for the eulogies, the variety of their backgrounds and experiences, and the way that the eulogies are put together to highlight their qualities.

Even though 9/11 starts to move into history, this is a film that has a great deal to say about self-sacrifice, devotion to duty – and the reality of death as well as the realities of grief.

1. A post-9/11 film, based on a play, adapted for the screen? Grief, coming to terms with grief? The tribute to those who have died? The lists at the end?

2. The United States, the experience of 9/11, the shock, devastation and deaths, the collapse of the Twin Towers, the sense of loss? The comment on the ripples and the range of those affected or not? Whether they were okay or not in dealing with the grief? The device of having the CCTV camera indicating the time on the morning of 9/11, and Barney’s arriving and going with his friend to the Twin Towers?

3. World audiences, appreciation of 9/11, the passing of the years, the remaining effect?

4. The film as a two-hander, the quality of the writing, the text on screen, the voice-overs? The credibility of the characters and what they were doing? The emotional power?

5. The framework, Joan and her story, as a writer, her talking, the screen text? From the Midwest, going to New York, her journalistic career, reporting on wars, photography, the risks? Marriage and her husband, the children? Her sister, going to see her, the sister’s work after 9/11, making the connection with Nick? The later visit of her sister and the children?

6. The set-up, visually, the portrait of each of the two characters, the time spent on their faces, pauses?

7. Nick in himself, his age, twenty years with the fire department, his experience, relationship with the men, on the day itself, the evening shift, the information, his arrival at the station?

8. His task, to write eulogies, his being apprehensive? Meeting with Joan, her encouragement? His initial reticence, her drawing things out from him, remembering, anecdotes? Joan and her typing, Nick reading the eulogies and their effect on him?

9. Joan as an experienced listener, making notes, her skill in eliciting information, typing up the eulogies, the response to the reading?

10. The quality of the eulogies, as real, human, not putting the men on a pedestal, acknowledging their flaws?

11. The couple talking together, cups of coffee, Joan and her weeping, the talk about the tango, the dancing sequence – or only in Joan’s imagination?

12. Jimmy, the young man, the probation term, his not screwing anything up, therefore being ordinary and successful, aged twenty-two, his first day at work?

13. Patrick, his close friendship with Nick, age, family, the church, picnics, the salad for the picnic lunch, taking the day shift, his being obsessed with detail, not wasting time, the theme of ‘follow me’?

14. Barney, German background, friendship with Dave, seeing him on the CTV, his arrival, his background in welding, driving to the Midwest, the old car, his humour and jokes?

15. The quiet man, in the kitchen, advice for all the young men, cooking, talking, the new men and helping them with their equipment?

16. The final sequence, Joan at the back of the church, Nick and the eulogy, Barney’s family, their being moved, the applause, carrying out the helmet with the sign?

17. The reality of death, dealing and coping with death, grief and eulogies?