PRIVATE SESSIONS
US, 1985, 100 minutes, Colour.
Mike Farrell, Maureen Stapleton, Denise Miller, Kathryn Walker, Tom Bosley, Robert Vaughn, Kelly Mc Gillis, Greg Evigan, Hope Lange, Kim Hunter, Victor Garber, Elias Koteas.
Directed by Michael Pressman.
Private Sessions was a pilot for a television series which did not eventuate. It was to feature Mike Farrell as a therapist and the range of people that he encountered in session. This film has quite a number of subplots, his relationship with his family as well as a nymphomaniac and a cab driver who has audio hallucinations (Kelly Mc Gillis and Tom Bosley).
In fact, the film has quite a number of veterans from the screen as well as Kelly Mc Gillis and Elias Koteas who were beginning their screen careers.
The film was directed by Michael Pressman, director for many decades of a range of television series. The film was interesting in terms of issues of therapy and the relationship of therapists to clients.
1. Television movie? Pilot for a series? The wide audience? The psychological issues, emotional issues?
2. The New York world, an affluent world of therapists and clients? Their different backgrounds? The musical score?
3. The structure of the film with the focus on Joe, on the clients, their stories, the family, the intercutting of the various strands?
4. Joe, as therapist, his training and background, divorce? His secretary? His daughter and concerns about her? His relationship with Doctor Bolger, her advice, clients and interests, her skills? The taxi driver and his concerns, driving, his son, worry, the wedding? Jennifer and her anxiety, clashes, the arguments, her mother and father? Her sexual relationships? Ricky, the jogging, the discussions, the date and Tippi? The counsellor and dating?
5. Jennifer, affluent, her sexual problems, the illustrations, her anxiety, the party and the seduction? Her relationship with her father? Memories and lies? Her outburst, her plea to her parents?
6. Harry, cab driver, family, the noises, hallucinations? His relationship with his wife, concern about the wedding, his son? The crash? Travelling with Joe, the fumes? His needs?
7. Joe’s wife, her relationship? The jokes?
8. Jennifer’s parents, Oliver and his attitudes, harshness, his wife and her concerns?
9. Issues of psychology, therapy – presented at an emotional level, audiences identifying with characters and issues – and the background for a television series?
