LOVE AND PAIN and the whole damn thing

US, 1973, 110 minutes, Colour.
Maggie Smith, Timothy Bottoms.
Directed by Alan Pakula.

Love and Pain is a very enjoyable love story. Potentially it is sentimental and unreal, but somehow or other the crispness of some of the dialogue, the comedy of the situations and the strong characterisations raise the film out of the ordinary. What could have been merely a picture postcard love story in Spain becomes a humane comedy-drama.

Much of the success of the film is due to Maggie Smith's portrayal of a tender, shy, comic misfit spinster (the opposite of her dominating Miss Jean Brodie and the eccentric Augusta of Travels with My Aunt). Timothy Bottoms, effective in Johnny Got His Gun; The Last Picture Show; The Paper Chase, matches Miss Smith. The director is Alan Pakula, formerly the producer for many of Robert Mulligan's films, To Kill a Mockingbird, Up the Down Staircase, and has successfully directed - The Sterile Cuckoo, Klute, The Parallax View.

1. The overtones of the title? Its mood, romance, realism, irony?

2. Were the situations credible? The balance between humour and sentiment, and the setting of the film in Spain with its romantic overtones?

3. What comment did the film make about misfits - that they are awkward yet have the same needs as others? That they are able to meet and click in their relationships?

4. Why was Walter a sympathetic hero? His initial intimidation by his father, awkwardness, asthma? His father making him go to Spain? Running away - did he always do this? His awkwardness with Miss Fisher and able to relate to her? What qualities did he have as a person?

5. Your first impressions of Lila? Why was she shy and awkward? Her illness and its effect on her voice, whistling? How humorous were her gaffes? Did she win audience sympathy? What qualities did she have? Her reliance on Spanish grammar for relating to people?

6. What made the happiness of the day when they 'climbed the ruins - the night outing and the dancing? How did .they contribute to each other's happiness?

7. The grabbing sequence was played for laughs - was it serious? The repercussions and embarrassment?

8. When Lila decided to commit suicide did you believe her? How comically was this done? Were you glad that Walter returned? Why? Her reaction?

9. Should they have consummated their love? Were they really in love? What possibility for further relationship did this show them? How realistic was buying the car and touring Spain together and the effect of this on them? Were they happy? What did the comedy contribute - the sequence in the rain?

10. Comment on the episode with the Spanish Grandee and its humour and irony.

11. How important was Walter's discovery of love and pain? Why did Lila then choose to tell him that she was to die? Was this unrealistic, sentimental? Did the joyful sequences in La Mancha help to balance this information?

12. Why did they decide to part? Was this done successfully? How?

13. What was the impact of Walter's return to America? Did he realise his life had changed? What was the conflict between La Mancha and America?

14. Why did he return to La Mancha? Were you happy they were to be married, even though Lila would die? Did this give significance to the film, especially regarding the fullness of life even though it was short?

15. What positive values were presented in the film? Why was the film so popular with audiences?