A TIME TO LIVE

US, 1985, 95 minutes, Colour.
Liza Minnelli, Corey Haim, Jeffrey De Munn, Swoosie Kurtz.
Directed by Rick Wallace.

A Time to Live is a moving telemovie focusing on the short life of a boy with Muscular Dystrophy. He is engagingly played by Corey Haim (The Lost Boys). The film marks the television debut of Liza Minnelli who gives an intelligent and strong performance as the mother (based on a real-life character and her book, Intensive Care). Jeffrey de Munn is good as the father and Swoozie Kurtz as the friend of the family.

The film is one of those American telemovies that tell a story, involve the audience, open up an area of concern for compassion and understanding. The film is strongly for the quality of life.

1. American telemovie style? Audience involvement? Social and personal message?

2. The title, the book called 'Intensive Care'? A real-life story? Authentic?

3. The American family, school, the visit to Paris? Musical score? Witty dialogue?

4. The situation and Peter: his birth, inheriting Muscular Dystrophy? Congenital? Through the mother? The prospects and the explanation? The sentiment towards the boy and his affliction? the medical background? The progress?

5. The family, the parents and Adam and his being left out, his exam results, his pushing Peter violently? Larry and Mary Lou: in themselves, their careers, law, writing? Opp¬ortunities? The presence of Mary Lou's mother, her concern, saying the wrong thing, mixing up the illnesses? Not coping? Irish and her support, continued friendship?

6. Mary Lou and the intercom, Peter testing her, her concern, the details of her advertisement about the requirements for someone to look after Peter? her being worn out, going to the party, weeping? her sense of guilt because of the congenital disease? Larry and his concern, being crowded out by Mary Lou, urging Mary Lou not to be self-centred? Liza Minnelli and the vitality and intelligence of her performance and presence?

7. The boys: Adam, his being overlooked, knocking Peter down? The play
at the beach? Burying Peter in the sand? Peter and his life, pers¬onality, disability, intercom with his parents at night? The school,, the day at the beach, buried in the sand, friendship with Trish?

8. Mary Lou's interest in the faith healer, the recommendation to go to Paris, the strong communication between the Frenchman and Peter? Nothing happening? Larry's disbelief? Mary Lou going to meetings -and her imagining a bizarre speech to the concerned mothers?

9. The getting of the wheelchair, Mary Lou's mother crying, Larry handling the situation well and allaying Peter's fears about never getting out? Peter at school, the locking of the wheelchair, going to the camp, his accident?

10. Larry's giving up, feeling left out, the strong fight sequence between husband and wife? Mutual understanding? Reconciliation? Larry's opting in and his excellent coping with the difficulties - the sequence at the theatre and getting Peter's wheelchair to stay 'in position?

11. Trish and her friendship, love of the family? Mary Lou's mother?

12. The pneumonia, Peter's final illness and death? His question about his death and his mother lying? His death? The value of his life? The title of the film and quality of life?