SOMMERSBY

US, 1993, 113 minutes.
Richard Gere, Jodie Foster, Bill Pullman, James Earl Jones.
Directed by Jon Amiel.

Sommersby is an adaptation of the French feature of the '80s, The Return of Martin Guerre, written and directed by Daniel Vigne. Director and writer Nicholas Meyer (Star Trek, The Seven Per Cent Solution, Time After Time) and Anthony Schaeffer (Sleuth) have adapted Vigne's film to the period following the American Civil War. The film was directed by Jon Amiel, director of The Singing Detective as well as the fine films Queen of Hearts and Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter.

The film re-creates the atmosphere of Virginia after the war, the return home, the uncertainties, the racial tension, the Ku Klux Klan, the need for rebuilding farms and towns. Richard Gere is Jack Sommersby, who returns from the war, is welcomed by the townspeople and by his wife Laurel (Jodie Foster). However, Jack Sommersby is not the original husband but is a man who is taking an opportunity to reframe and begin his life again. He transforms the community - ultimately giving his life for them.

The film is beautiful to look at, the Virginia locations attractive, the interiors photographed in shades to suggest old photographs and the period. It is a satisfying romantic drama.

1. The quality of The Return of Martin Guerre, its plot, twists, characters? The adaptation and emphases for Somersby? The US, the post-Civil War period? The different emphases on the characters?

2. The Virginia settings, the valiant hills, the 1860s, the aftermath of the war, the ruined mansions, the barren fields, the village? The attention to detail, the colour tones and atmosphere, the musical score?

3. Themes of identity, believing what one wants to believe, love, the empowering of a people, life-giving and sacrifice?

4. Richard Gere as Sommersby, genial character, the opening and the burial under the rocks, the long trek home, the arrival, knowing all the detail about the people, their welcome and greeting, the six years' absence, giving credibility to Horace Townsend taking on Jack Somersby's character and persona?

5. The revelation of the real Jack Sommersby, harsh, popular with the people, wealthy, a drinker, a gambler, the murder? His death - and yet Laurel accepting Jack Somersby, recognising the impostor, yet welcoming a better husband?

6. Horace Townsend, the information about his being a teacher, a conman, stealing the money, getting the girl pregnant, going off to war, a coward? In jail, sharing the imprisonment with Jack Sommersby for four years, needing to make restitution for his past, a new life, burying Horace Townsend? Giving his life for the town and for Jack Sommersby?

7. Sommersby and Laurel, the young boy and believing that Jack returning was husband and father? The dog and his welcoming - but the dog's death and burial? Laurel and her working the land, with Orin, his courting her and the promise to marry her? Her not loving him? At work, the old mansion? Jack's absence? Her response to the new Jack, the welcome, the banquet, the dancing? Love for him? His plan for the town, the crops? The meeting and his speech? His treatment of the blacks and allowing them to own the land? Laurel supporting him - the collecting of the money and the jewels? His travel - and the hesitation that he would not come back? Bringing the tobacco seeds, the hard work, cultivating the seeds, watching them grow, planting, the fertiliser, the fruitful crop, the worms and collecting them? The gift of new life to the town? The threat with the three veterans identifying him - and his pulling a knife on them, Laurel seeing it?

8. Laurel in herself, her past life, her son? Her relationship with Orin? The work, the growth in love for Jack, listening to him tell stories, reading Homer to Robert? Pregnant, his care for her, the birth of the baby? The achievement and sharing it with Jack? Seeing the knife - and the jolt to reality?

9. The townspeople and the vivid characters, the minister and his support, the shoemaker and his concern about the wrong shoe size - yet believing Jack? The doctor and his help, the pregnancy? Joseph and the group of blacks, the possibility for building a united community?

10. Orin, his injury, observing, jealousy, his leading the people in prayer? His testing of Jack? Interviewing the three men? Yet the decision to help - especially with the killing of the worms? His attraction towards Laurel, deciding to fight?

11. The birth of the child, the happiness, the new crop - possibilities for a new life?

12. The Ku Klux Klan, the burning cross, the whipping of Joseph, the confrontation with Jack? Knowing Orin was a member of the Klan? The witness from his old town and knowing him to be a schoolteacher?

13. The irony of his arrest, Jack Sommersby and the gambling and the killing? The pledge to Laurel? The people and their support, following him and farewelling him? Prosecutor and defence? The charges, the cross-examination? The response of the people? The irony of the black judge - and the hostility of the Klan member and his contempt of court, the sentence?

14. Laurel and her trying to tell the truth, not thinking through the consequences? The deal with Orin to save Jack? Yet her being confused in the witness stand? Orin leaving the court? The young boy and his wanting to believe Jack to be his father, puzzled by his mother's testimony? The range of witnesses, the identification of Horace as Jack Somersby? Jack taking on his own defence, arguing with Laurel, his knowing the consequences?

15. The impact of the trial, the possibility of saving himself, accepting Sommersby's guilt, the prison sequences, the discussions with Laurel, the farewell, wanting her to be at the hanging?

16. The dramatic and emotional impact of the hanging? The giving of his life for the community?

17. The rebuilding of the village - and the symbolic finale with the building of the steeple? Laurel and Robert going to his grave?