THE YOUNG ONE (LA JOVEN)

Mexico, 1960, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Zachary Scott, Bernie Hamilton, Claudio Brook, Kay Meersman, Crahan Denton.
Directed by Luis Bunuel.

A film from Luis Bunuel, his prolific period of the fifties just prior to The Exterminating Angel and Viridiana and the ~ other classics of the sixties. It was made in Mexico with American stars and in English. It is a variation on the Robinson Crusoe theme with people isolated coming into contact with one another and clashing There is a strange blend of pessimism and optimism.

Zachary Scott, a heavy of the forties and early fifties, is quite good in the central role. There is a clash also between white man and black man, the black man being portrayed by Bernie Hamilton. The Young One is an interesting side of Luis Bunuel's films emphasising a more realistic approach to his themes of human relationship, appearances and reality.

1. A Luis Bunuel film? Realistic approach, an optimistic outlook on life?

2. Bunuel's tradition of surrealist films? His achievement by 1960? His black and white style, his using American styles, stars, Mexican locations? An American style story, themes of American racism? The viewpoint of a Spanish exile?

3. The significance of the title and its focus on Evelyn? Her innocence, goodness? The bond with Miller? Her being a means for good? A bond with Miller and Travers?

4. The audience entering the film with Travers? His plight? His seeming to be a victim? The significance of the flashback? The seeming guilt? The judgments made on him? his need for survival? His arriving at the island and not being allowed to trespass? The island as a symbol of the white world? Intruding into the world of Miller and Evelyn? Their varying reactions?

5. How well did the film create the character of Travers? The significance of the song during the credits? That he came from the North, background, educated? His use of language? His mechanical skills and survival capabilities? His values, his pride? His relating with Evelyn well? Miller reacting with hatred? The build-up to Miller's suspicions, chasing him, shooting him? His being involved in vengeance? His eating. being tied up, his being hunted by the white men? As a human being, as black? Insight into race relationships?

6. Travers' attitude towards the clergyman? Their discussions, the truth? Jackson and his hostility? The significance of the physical and mental hurt? His innate goodness?

7. The portrayal of racist realities and their relationship to the theme? The importance of showing such prejudice, discrimination?

8. Evelyn and her lack of discrimination? Her love for Peewee and helping to bury him? The fact that she was not educated? Innocent and wild, a girl but not conscious of her womanhood? Miller transforming her into a woman? Seeing her washing, cooking? Her immediate attitude towards Travers, helping but suspicious, the money? Fascinated by his clarinet? expecting him to eat at table with them? Helping him to escape?

9. The relationship with Evelyn and Miller at the beginning? The fact that she was there and waiting on him, his using her? His buying her? Spending the night but not wanting her to tell the truth? How did she eventually influence Miller for the good? What future could she have with him?

10. Miller as central to the film? In himself, as a man, his work, shooting? His exploiting Evelyn? His attitude towards Peewee and burying him? His suspicion, suspicion of Miller? His lust for Evelyn? Violence? The detailed sequences of his hunting Travers? His ridiculing him and his memories of the army? What eventually changed him? Why did he do good at the end? Indicating that people are redeemable?

11. Jackson as the other white man? ordinary man, his attitude towards killing? His being sly with Evelyn? His talking to Travers as he was tied? No pity for him? The hate with the final fight and his challenging Travers to kill him?

12. The importance of the minister, representing religion? His being portrayed as a staid religious type? His concern for Evelyn? The importance of his believing Travers? The effect on Evelyn, especially with baptizing her and promising heaven and gold? The importance of the scene where he read John's Gospel chapter 4? His being confronted by the letter of the law and the spirit of the law?

13. The importance of the environment of the island? Overtones of Robinson Crusoe and survival? The contrast of the old world with the modern world? An isolated world and a world outside? The laws and values on the island and the contrast with the outer world? Standards of good and evil? The atmosphere of forest, river, sea, animals e.g. the rabbit, deer, possum etc.?

14. The importance of the conversations and what they revealed about the characters, Miller and his discussion of his army experience? The minister and his revelation that Travers would be innocent because of the reputation of the woman he was supposed to have harmed? Themes exploring a miniature society and small society as a microcosm of the world?