GETTING TO KNOW YOU
US, 1999, 91 minutes, Colour.
Marc Blum, Zac Braff, Leo Burmester, Bo Hopkins, Heather Materazzo, Bebe Neuwirth, Celia Weston, Michael Weston.
Directed by Lisanne Skyler.
Getting to Know You is based on a series of stories from the book Heat by Joyce Carroll Oates. The film, in a sense, is a version of a collection of short stories. When a brother and sister spend the afternoon at a New York State bus station, the sister chats with a young man who claims he was at school with her and he tells stories about people in the bus depot. She also remembers her own story. As the film ends, the young girl has come to terms with her family's story and the young man with his.
The film is straightforward in its presentation, boasts very good performances and grows on its audience so that you feel that you have spent the afternoon with these characters, got to know them and their dilemmas.
1. The transition from short stories to screenplay? The style of filming for the short stories, episodes woven into the overall whole?
2. The title - who was getting to know whom throughout the film? The title true of all the characters?
3. The bus station setting out its world, the insertion of the flashbacks? The town itself, Atlantic City, homes? The musical score?
4. The structure: Judith and Wesley and their story, going to the bus station, chatting with Jimmy, the visualising of his stories and the flashbacks for Judith and Wesley?
5. The credits and Trix and Darrell dancing? The recurring motif? The visit to the hospital, Judith anxious to see Trix, Wesley hesitant, wanting to go? Trix and Darrell and their life, show business, jobs, the drinking, being sacked, the viciousness of the fighting, Judith calling the police? Wesley not knowing - but admitting that he should have called?
6. Judith and her love for Trix, admiration for her mother, the visit to the hospital and the rejection? The message about her mother strangling her - and the implications later with the phone call to the police? Her phoning Darrell but the message that they should stew in their own juice? Her relationship with Wesley, getting the bus, the friendliness of the ticket-seller, having to wait for hours, Wesley waiting and studying? Judith and remembering her own story, the fights, the loss of jobs, her trying to please her mother, phoning the police? Her meeting Jimmy, his explaining that he was at school with her, listening to his stories, changing? Her future?
7. Wesley and his study, his stern manner, care for his sister, his memories, the treatment by his parents, fighting his father, his fear when they fought, his future and going to study? His knowledge of science? Judith, her sitting, chatting with Jimmy, the claim about school? Jimmy telling the story about Eddie and his police work, the shooting of Michael because of the television set, Eddie's grief?
8. The story about the two women at Atlantic City, the gambling, meeting the professionals, Sonny and his taking the woman to his room, buying her clothes, his winning $75,000, his losing it? His going off, her not being able to contact him - what was her message? Pregnancy? Jimmy overhearing, Judith overhearing? The woman who was holding the baby, not able to have a child? The speculation about her story, marrying the older man, his taciturn but clever son, the father being hard on his son, the son going to Sunday School but going away? The son and his attitude towards his stepmother, the husband and his threatening his wife, not protecting the son, the complete honesty? Finding out about his son, the confrontation, the son fulfilling his promise to kill his father, the mother wanting to take the blame? Jimmy finally admitting his own story - that it was his father shot trying to buy him a computer? Hence his not going to college, hanging around the town, not going home? The friendship of Eddie? Eddie's talk with Judith? Jimmy's final decision, dropping the pretence about New York City, going home?
9. Eddie and his story, the shooting, his working the city, the bus station? Wise advice and kindness towards Jimmy?
10. The women at Atlantic City, the gambling, wanting other experiences, the relationship, the gambling, coming home, trying desperately to ring?
11. The woman with the axe, love for her husband, her fear, treatment? Care for her stepson, not wanting to take his mother's place? Willing to take the blame for the death?
12. The characters at the bus station, the man selling the tickets, the old lady begging money, getting the chips, with her bottles? The old drunk?
13. A portrait of people, the audience getting to know them? The message that we have one mouth and two ears and should act accordingly?
