JOSHUA THEN AND NOW

Canada, 1985, 119 minutes, Colour.
James Woods, Gabrielle Lazure, Alan Arkin, Michael Sarrazin, Linda Sorenson, Alexander Knox, Robert Joy.
Directed by Ted Kotcheff.

1. An interesting and entertaining film? Portrait of a writer? The Canadian flavour and atmosphere?

2. The novels and the film versions of Mordecai Richler’s novels? This film as a miniseries, as a cut-down version for cinemas? The loss of material? How significant for the feature film version?

3. The Canadian settings, London, Ontario? Canadian society, the place of Jews? The period?

4. The structure of the film: the focus on the different characters? Joshua, Pauline, the parents? The phone calls? Kevin? The reminiscences and dealing with memories?

5. James Woods as Joshua, his screen presence, energy and tensions? His life as a youngster? His father, the escape? The Jewish stories? The pool-playing – and the exodus? His mother? His birthday, the striptease? Serious and funny?

6. Joshua and his ambitions, his study? Visit to Spain, to Europe, to London? Articles? Sidney and sharing? The jokey letters, the girls, his success?

7. Pauline, the chase? Husband, the demonstrations and arrests, the separation?

8. The visit to the senator, the arguments? Marriage? Children and growing up?

9. Joshua’s relationship to Pauline, the Jewish contacts, parents?

10. Joshua in Canada, his work, TV celebrity? His place in society? Jack and his wife? The role of Kevin? Money, parties? The crash? Confronting Jack?

11. Pauline and her marriage, her father? The children? the Jewish influence? Love and tensions? Kevin and the collapse? Hospital? The end?

12. Kevin as a playboy, returning, his wife, getting caught up, his death?

13. The portrait of Reuben Shapiro? A character in himself, his stories, his love for his son, his relationship with his wife? The poolroom scene? Disasters? Sharing?

14. Jack and his symbolic presence, his wife?

15. Sidney, death, his son, the publication and the scandal? Joshua and the scandal, the resolution?

16. Portrait of Joshua, his life, Canadian atmosphere, Jewish atmosphere? The resolution of problems?