FOOD OF LOVE

Spain, 2001, 104 minutes, Colour.
Juliet Stevenson, Kevin Bishop, Paul Rhys, Alan Corduner, Geraldine Mc Ewan.
Directed by Ventura Pons.

Food of Love is based on a novel by gay novelist David Leavitt, The Page Turner. It focuses on a young American, played by British actor Kevin Bishop, who is a page turner for a famous pianist, played by Paul Rhys. Alan Corduner (Sir Arthur Sullivan in Topsy- Turvy) is his manager. Both are gay men and an infatuation begins.

Later, in Spain, the young man is on holidays with his mother who is getting over a separation. He meets the pianist again – wants to build up the relationship but the pianist is unable to make a commitment. The young man also has a crisis in his hopes for a musical career – discovering that he does not have sufficient talent.

The strength of the film is particularly in Juliet Steven’s performance as the mother. The film was adapted for the screen by Catalan director, Ventura Pons (The Actresses, Anita Takes a Chance). It tends to recreate an enclosed world of the arts as well as an enclosed world of homosexual relationships.

The film is also rather melodramatic in its style – more from the perspective of a Catalan director than from the American characters and situations.

1. The writing of David Leavitt? Literary acclaim in the United States? In Europe? His narratives, his themes of Americans abroad? The gay themes?

2. The adaptation of the novel for the screen, by the director-writer? The literary aspects of the film, the narrative and the dialogue?

3. The New York and San Francisco settings, the atmosphere of California and New York City? The contrast with Barcelona? The travelogue aspects of Barcelona and its buildings, its art, the hotels? The different lifestyles of America and Spain?

4. The title, the quotation from Shakespeare? Music as the food of love? The focus on music, the knowledge of the protagonists, their abilities, their artistry? The range of musical pieces played throughout the film?

5. The themes of family, broken and dysfunctional families? Relationships between mother and son? Sexual identity? The young man and sexual awareness? Relationships? Confusion, consequences? The impact on the mother, her own perceptions on homosexuality - especially as she went to the group for support and listened to the women's stories?

6. The opening: Paul, his being ready to be the page-turner, the encounter with Richard Kennington, with the associate artists, meeting Joseph Mansourian? His mother and her possessiveness? His deference to Richard? On stage, turning the pages? His respectful attitude towards Richard, Richard inviting him for a drink, discovering that Richard was alone? The advances made by Mansourian? His mother demanding that he come away?

7. Mother and son in Spain, the mother's tantrums, tired, edgy? Not wanting to do things by herself? Paul and his irritation with his mother? Going out and about by himself, urging her to go by herself, wanting personal space?

8. His seeing the notice of Richard Kennington's concert, ringing the hotels, finally finding his number, going to the hotel? The meeting, his own motivations in going, his infatuation with Richard, the sexual implications, knowing these or not? The discussions, Richard and the offer of the massage, taking off his clothes, staying? Not wanting to talk about music? The aftermath, the effect on Paul, going back to the hotel?

9. The irony of the mother and son in the street, the mother surrounded by the gypsies, their stealing her purse, Richard having seen Paul, then saving the purse for the mother? The three being together, the meals, Pamela and her practically forcing Paul to be a tour guide for Richard? Her insistence, her getting her hair done, her enjoyment of the beauty treatment, buying dresses? Her eventually standing on her own feet, enjoying the scenery in Barcelona?

10. Paul and Richard going to the hotel, the affair? Their telling each other their life stories, the discussions about music, ambitions? Richard not getting the notes from Joseph? The phone calls, the emergence of the relationship between Joseph and Richard, not just simply manager but sexual liaison? Eventually getting the notes, ringing, sympathy for the death of the dog? Paul and his moodiness, his being with Richard? Possessive, wanting Richard to come to Granada with his mother and himself? The effect on Richard, his suddenly leaving?

11. Richard saying he was unwell, Paul telling his mother, Pamela going to the apartment, bringing the breakfast, her own sexual advances, seeing the underwear in the bathroom, the shock, her leaving?

12. The passing of the six months, Paul and his entrance into Juilliard? Dissatisfaction with his course, discovering that he was not as good as he thought? The previous lesson with the migrant teacher? His return, her comment on his playing, advising him to be an accompanist rather than a concert pianist? His jealousy of the young man who got the contract and the agent? His boarding with his friend, his refusing to have his mother's phone calls? The liaison with the older man, the chance encounter with Joseph? His meeting Joseph and going to be a page-turner at the concert, the invitation to stay behind, the sexual advance, Joseph giving him the prized record, his taking the photo? The sexual encounter? The older man with whom he had a relationship, to what purpose? The later scene of the dinner with the intellectual group? His weeping in the bedroom about his failure to be a concert pianist?

13. The Christmas visit, his mother looking through his case, finding the magazine, the photo? Her being disturbed, not saying anything to Paul? Going with her friend to the group, the women talking about the stories of their sons, their frankness about the gay relationships, the leather bars, contraceptives? Pamela and her listening, the advice that she should speak directly to Paul?

14. Her frantic going to New York, flying there, trying to find him, gatecrashing Mansourian's party, the accusations, the attack on Richard on his arrival, not believing his denials? Richard and his explanations to Mansourian? Mansourian as a skilful agent, living alone, the relationship with Richard, not travelling with him in later years, the attachment to his dog, telling the doorman, grieving, the discussion with Paul about not replacing the dog?

15. The phone call, Pamela talking to her son, the confrontation, his defiance, her concern? His continued attack on her being hysterical? Her being offended at the way he spoke? Her making him realise the relationship between Mansourian and Richard? His being sad, the embrace between mother and son?

16. Paul, having to grow up, acknowledge his sexuality, realise deceptions, the consequences? The mother and the messiness of the divorce, rejection by her husband and the feeling that she was unlovable, the father and his note to his son? The divorce? What Pamela learnt from this experience with her son and with Richard?

17. A sense of humanity in the film? The depiction of an area of relationships that raises apprehensions, curiosity, disapproval in an audience? Making Paul a sympathetic character yet with the touch of creepiness?