WHERE THE HEART IS

US, 1990, 94 minutes, Colour.
Dabney Coleman, Uma Thurman, Joanna Cassidy, Crispin Glover, Suzy Amis, Christopher Plummer.
Directed by John Boorman.

Where the Heart Is is an oddball New York comedy drama. It seems to be an '80s variation on the themes of `You can't take it with you', a critique of the social injustice of the period, an assertion of freedom, fringe artistry and the family as a commune of free spirits. What makes the film of interest is that it was written by its director John Boorman in collaboration with his daughter, Tesche Boorman. Barman’s career has ranged from both sides of the Atlantic to such interesting films as Point Blank, Zardoz, Excalibur, The Emerald Forest. This film echoes some of the themes of his unusual British comedy, Leo the Last, with Marcello Mastroianni.

Dabney Coleman leads the cast as the father of the family, a demolitions expert with a conservative stance. Uma Thurman and Suzie Amos are his daughters, Joanna Cassidy (playing gently against her usual strong type) is his wife. Christopher Plummer appears as an eccentric beggar, a one-time dancer and magician whom the family nickname The Shit.

The film is reminiscent of the many films of the '70s and '80s critical of big corporations and their takeovers, destroying homes in order to put up large buildings. The film has its heart in the right place - but with its eccentricities, its art and fashions, its critique of Wall Street, the artistry of demolishing buildings ... it is a fey mixture which did not appeal very much at the box office.

1. The title, home is where the heart is? The issues of homes, parents and children, estates and the children having to make their home on their own?

2. The blend of reality and fantasy – the tradition of optimistic social films like Capra’s You Can’t Take It With You?

3. The credits, painting New York City? The demolition, the Dutch House? The world of affluence in New York? The contrast with poverty? Brooklyn, the streets, Manhattan, Wall Street?

4. Art, the painting, the music, the magic, the mime, design and fashion? The musical score?

5. The setting: Stuart and Jean, the demolishing of the house, the demolition as art, the decision to protect the Dutch House? The role of Daphne?

6. Stuart and Jean and their children, tensions, the graduation, Daphne, Chloe and Lionel? Their reactions to their father? His work? His conservative stances? His appearances on TV – and their mocking him?

7. Stuart and his decision to oust his children, Jean and her soft approach? His hard line, their going to the house, giving seven hundred and fifteen dollars? His motivation in sending them to the Dutch House?

8. The Dutch House itself, standing alone, the other demolished buildings? Its ugliness? The protesters? The three children, the reaction to their being ousted, reaction to their parents? Their response to living in the house, meeting with other people, the beginnings of a commune, as a refuge for people? Their parents and the visit to the Dutch House?

9. Daphne, her personality, style? Her artwork? Her discovering The Shit? Magic? Her relationship with Tom?

10. Chloe, Tommy, the painting and the designs? Their trying to get money? Lionel and his adjusting to living in the Dutch House? Chloe and Lionel and their personalities? Their abilities?

11. Jim, the job, slapping the father? The demolition? The posing? Sheryl? The celebration?

12. Lionel, gay, design, everyone helping, his success?

13. The character of the sheet, the hobo on the street? Dancer and his past, philosopher and his dialogue? The magic? The tradition of Houdini? Roselands and the dancing?

14. Sheryl, the tongues, her black friend?

15. Tom, Wall Street, money – and his relationship with the group, some redemption?

16. Stuart, the demolition, the raiders on the building? The bank? Buying – and going broke? The collapse? The meeting with the protesters? The box, the house, the change? Hamilton? The blowing up of the building?

17. Hamilton, the bank, the computer?

18. The children and their learning freedom, happiness, relying on themselves? The demolition and the dance?

19. The fey aspects of the film? The realism of the New York setting – but the magic realism in the style? And the message?