GENERATION

US, 1985, 120 minutes, Colour.
Richard Beymer, Cristina Raines.
Directed by Michael Tuchner.

Generation is a telemovie designed as a pilot for a series which did not in fact eventuate. It is a futuristic fable. It has a touch of Rollerball (Norman Jewison's film about the future with a deadly sport, like Gladiatorial combat, and the effect on society). This film was directed by Englishman Michael Tuchner, better known for a range of feature films and telemovies. It has a competent cast-led by teenage star of Westside Story, Richard Beymer. The film focuses on the last week of 1999 - and what society might be like (as regards family relationships , big business and deals, brutality and sport...).

1. Interesting telemovie? Fable about the future? Entertaining? Message?

2. The atmosphere of 1999? The credits sequence and the passing of the years? Technology, homes, ambulances and surgery, big business, inventions, sport? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus, family? The end of the century, of the millennium? Hopes for the third millennium?

4. Allan and his relationship with Kate, their life at home, love for their daughter? Their work? Taking them away form each other? Kate and her Hispanic background and the family prejudice? Allan and his inventions, concern about exploration? His friendship with his brother, envy of him and his sports ability? The use of his inventions? The company and their smooth talk, seductive manner, taking his inventions - especially the Pal, the material for the hockey players? His dillemmas9 Clash with his wife? The possible seduction and his refusal? His honesty with his wife? The attack on his daughter? His rivalry with his brother? Helping him to face Hockeyman? Upstaging the directors, having them meet his conditions? The reconciliation with the family? With his parents and the New Year's Eve party? Kate, her background, love for daughter? At home? Going into the tough neighbourhood, the confrontation with the gang leader? Her return, the support of the black lady, the daughter's arrival? The future success? The daughter, her studies, hockey players? Her not wanting her parents to separate?

5. The grandparents, the telephone and television linkup? tensions, wanting the family together? Roma and the clash with her father's racism, his hitting her? Her mother's plea, the mother's hopes for the end of the century and millennium?
Getting the family together? Going to plead with Roma? The resignation about people not coming, the happiness at the reunion? The father and the reconciliation?

6. Roma, her skill as a surgeon, icy? Stubborn? The relation of her staff to her? The telephone link-up and her resentment of her father? Her mother's visit, pleading, her tears? Her decision to go, the reconciliation?

7. Jack, the champion hockey player, love for the family, girlfriends? Love of the sport, working with the team? Rivalry with Allan? The discovery of the truth, his wanting to challenge, using the special material, the vigorous sport, his
victory?

8. The company and their wheeler dealing, exploitation, stealing inventions? Open marriage etc? The confrontation with Allan , his beating them at their own game, their threats?

9. Hockeyman, the robot, the confrontation with the sportsmen, the playing of the game?

10. The hockey and the symbol of violent future, audience participation, the hard fought game? The dangers? Allan and his concern about the sport the way it was played?

11. A popular look at the future, raising questions of morality and ethics - in the form of a telemovie?