REFLECTIONS

Ireland, 1984, 90 minutes, Colour.
Gabriel Byrne, Donal McCann, Harriet Walter, Fionnula Flanagan.
Directed by Kevin Billington.

Reflections is a quiet study of characters in their environment. It is an Irish film, focusing on Gabriel Byrne as a historian who comes during the summer to write a book on Isaac Newton. Much of the dialogue focuses on Newton, his scientific and mathematical method, his own disillusionment with his work and his scientific interpretation of the universe. Byrne lives in a lodge owned by a household with secrets - and the historian draws wrong conclusions about those secrets (as, probably, does the audience). He becomes involved with the family, love, companionship, illness, death. At the end of the film, he leaves, perhaps a bit wiser.

The film is very well acted, has a rather slow pace that draws the audience into the atmosphere and asks them to identify with and study and interpret the characters. Direction is by Kevin Billington (The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, And No One Could Save Her).

1. Interesting and enjoyable character study? Environment?

2. The Irish settings, the house, the lodge, the grounds, the village? Authentic atmosphere? Beautiful, isolated? The musical score?

3. The title? William's reflections? The audience's?

4. The framework of the film: the audience entering the environment with William? Sharing his perspective, the outsider, the writer, the historian, the thinker? Emotional involvement? Intellectual curiosity? Undermining of his presuppositions? Rash judgments? His interventions? His leaving - and uncertainties?

5. The character of William: bachelor, seven years writing his book, his ambitions, his scientific method, disillusionment with his work? His understanding of Newton? The dog and the candle and the burning of Newton's work? His madness? His own interpretation of his work? Mathematical and scientific theory to interpret the universe? William's acceptance of the lodge? His fascination by Charlotte? His imagining her romantically as she played the piano? Tenderness and love? The involvement with Ottilie, the affair, passion, his not loving her? Their discussions? The clashes? Trying to break from her? In the lodge, in the house? His assuming that Michael was her child? That Edward was the father? That she threw herself at every man? Yet his misunderstanding? Observation of Michael, of Edward and Charlotte, going to meals, to the visit of Diana and Tom? The quiet observer? The people in the district? Mr Pronti's offer for the house? The doctor coming for Edward? His discussions with Edward, friendship, drinking? The cancer? His decision to leave after offering help to Charlotte and her not hearing it? His future?

6. Ottilie, isolated in the house, wanting something more, study? Infatuated by William, throwing herself at him, the affair, its meaning for her? Not being the mother of Michael? Not having been with another man? The hurt, William hitting her and apologising? Her practical life, understanding of Charlotte, of Edward, handling of Michael? In the background? Her future?

7. Edward and Charlotte, the background of their marriage, the work with the nursery, Charlotte and her skills? Quiet? Mournful? Her attitude towards William? Playing the piano and seeming beautiful? Yet her pills, tranquillised? Concern about Edward? Diana's pity? Edward and his wandering, story about the past, his relationship with Charlotte? Living in the lodge? Friendship with William, drinking together? Sardonic towards his sister? His illness, wandering, the doctor and his collapse? The cancer? Charlotte not hearing William? Her devotion to Edward?

8. Michael, appearing quietly, bows and arrows, games? Not speaking? The gift from Tom? Shy? The true story of his origins, being adopted by Charlotte and Edward?

9. Diana and Tom, their visit, Diana's superiority, pity for Charlotte, her political views? Tom as jovial?

10. Mr Pronti, the visit to dinner, the offer for the house? The interrupted conversation about the sale and about Newton?

11. The atmosphere of village life, isolated, the people in the village, the doctor?

12. The Irish setting, the background of Ireland? The beauty of Ireland and its isolation? People in their environment? Creative, destroyed? Future?