A STRANGER TO LOVE

US, 1996, 95 minutes, Colour.
Beau Bridges, Tess Harper, Pam Dawber.
Directed by Peter Levin.

A Stranger to Love is a standard telemovie: a portrait of a happy family, an experience of amnesia, the search for the missing husband, his dilemma in facing his new life and going back to his old life.

The film is made in the popular Hollywood style - acceptable for the widest range of audiences. Beau Bridges is sincere as the chef, married for 24 years with two children, who is mugged and experiences amnesia, being lost in another state and town. Tess Harper is the wife who never gives up. Pam Dawber the restaurateur, widow with two children, who is kind to Bridges and then finally relies on him for her restaurant and wants to marry him. The film is emotional in audiences identifying with the central character, with the two women and the experience of the dilemma.

1. Popular telemovie? Love story? Family? Potential tragedy?

2. The Nebraska and Arizona settings: the homes, the restaurants, the shelters, the psychiatrists, police stations? The musical score?

3. The family: Alan and his running of the restaurant, his love for his wife? Her sensing that he was at something of a crisis? Paul and his resentment of his father, wanting to do things better? Alan and his friendliness to his customers, giving them free meals, encouraging their patronage? Chris and his love for his father?

4. The mugging, Alan being taken interstate, waking up and not knowing where he was, as a man on the street, unkempt, hungry, the police, the psychiatrists? His running away? Seeing the young boy and a trace of memory of Chris? With Andie, her sending him away, his not going? Wanting a job? Staying with Andie, getting to know her, falling in love? His kindness with the two boys, discipline in the kitchen, friendliness, talking to them about family? Their coming to rely on him? His taking over as chef? The success of the restaurant? The niggling questions about his identity?

5. The man from Omaha recognising him, his rejection, yet his puzzle, the phone call?

6. His wife and her search, going to the police, the doctors? Paul identifying the body as his father? The wife going to Arizona? Her disappointment? The contact, her coming to see Andie? Alan and his not recognising her? Her own dilemma, wanting to have him but prepared to let him go?

7. The photos, the memories coming back, the painful goodbye to the boys, to Andie? Promising to be friends? His going back home, the reconciliation? Knowledge of his life, identity, family - and his future?