PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT

US, 1972, 99 minutes, Colour.
Richard Benjamin, Karen Black, Lee Grant, Jack Somack, Jill Clayburgh, Jeannie Berlin.
Directed by Ernest Lehman.

Portnoy's Complaint is the film version of Philip Roth's controversial small novel. Although the incidents and the extremely blunt language are farcical, there is a desperately serious theme underlying this film. Unfortunately, there is some tastelessness in the presentation, and an unfortunate use of predictable television-commercial style for some other sequences, and this does not make the film as telling as it might have been. American (or universal) momism, adolescent narcissism, Jewish (or any other national or religious group) ghetto mentality, the failure to grow up emotionally, the punishing of parents in callously self centred relationships, this is what the film is about and well worth reflecting on. Richard Benjamin seems at home in the central role, Karen Black is moving as the Monkey. Lee Grant is very effective as Portnoy's oppressive mother. An interesting serio-comic lesson for parents and senior secondary teachers.

1. The book was famous with an atmosphere of controversy about its circulation. Does this alter peoples' opinions as they approach this film? The meaning of the title and its illustration in the film? Are people prepared to take it seriously from this point of view?

2. Was the theme suitable for screen presentation? How well was it presented? Did the film keep within the limits of good taste and artistry in presenting a controversial theme? Which examples best illustrate this?

3. How humorous a film was it? when was it genuinely funny? How serious was it? When did this emerge fully? Did the film indulge in any sentimentality in regards relationships and feelings? or did it give genuine sentiment and communicate genuine feelings? The colour photography, Panavision, the Michel Legrand music and themes? Would it have been a better film if it had been tighter, on smaller screen, less colourful? Why?

4. Comment on the value of the structure of the film: the story has been framed by two walks in a New York street at beginning and end? The relating of Portnoy's complaint to the psychiatrist with his reactions and non-reactions? The importance of the fantasy sequences interspersed in the film? The flashbacks of memory? The Monkey and her falling towards Portnoy? The atmosphere of fear pervading the humour with the romance? How did this complex structure communicate the meaning of the film and Portnoy's complaint and change?

5. Were you sympathetic to Alexander Portnoy? The initial comic sequence of his stripping the client? What kind of man was he in himself? How self satisfied? Was he really affected by the fear of the Monkey's death? The picture of Portnoy and his family? Was he explained by his relationship to his mother and father, their comic aspects, the grating nagging aspects, the mother over concerned, the father with his constipation etc., the sister with her eating? How important was the Jewish background for him? Religion? His arguments about observance with his father? The fantasy of his abusing things Jewish to the congregation? The importance of sexuality in his life and his lack of adjustment to this? The importance of the masturbation sequences and his refuge in masturbation? His inability to relate to girls properly? His seeking for the perfect girl etc.? How callow a person was he at the start? Did the audience identify with him at all? Was he incapable of responding deeply to the situations which the audience could see? How strong was his self pity at the beginning? or was it merely blindness? Contrasting with his self pity and tears at the end? How important was the response and non response of the psychiatrist? He did take notes at one stage. He indicated at the end that Portnoy should return. How important was the role of the psychiatrist?

7. How humorous were the sequences of Portnoy as an adolescent? What kind of people were his mother and father? The excruciating nature of the meals? The long sequence of his mother questioning him and his refuge in the bathroom? Why did he resort to masturbation? What insight into the reasons for masturbation did the film give? Especially in his mother nagging at him continually? How effective was the long sequence of the soliloquy in bed with the Monkey? This contained much of Phillip Roth's writing and was given off for several minutes. Was it effective for the film? How important was the sequence of the visit to Bubbles? What was being satirised in the character of Bubbles? By the boys lining up for her? Of her treatment of Portnoy? And of his fantasies about being blind and having syphilis?

8. How did this contrast with Portnoy's later visits to his parents as they had grown old? His mother saying she didn't need gifts but reminding him of his father? Their spying on him about his relationship with girls? The fact that he didn't visit them much? What was he trying to break off? How did the atmosphere of these visits contrast with the earlier scenes of the parents?

9. How ironic was the filming of his meeting the Monkey? His speaking of ideals and her behaviour? What kind of person was she? Her reactions to him at the initial meeting at the flat? Her preoccupation with sex? Her admiration of Portnoy and his mind? The collage of sequences when he was improving her mind? Was this too slick or did it add up to giving an impression of the growth of their relationship?

10. How happy was the sequence in Vermont? Its cigarette commercial style? (Was Portnoy's life cigarette-commercial style?) why were they happy? Was it just the sexual relationship or was it really love? The humour of the collage of photos of the Monkey in the countryside etc.?

11. How skilfully was the return trip filmed? The strain between the two? The Monkey's happiness? And then her change into abuse of Portnoy? This was all filmed in straight close-up and the change of mood effected within some minutes.

12. How was the mayor's dinner a dramatic climax to their relationship? Portnoy's going to her flat, her delaying with her shower and her dressing? The importance of the dress and the wig? Portnoy's reaction to this and their discussion in the car? The monkey's abuse of Portnoy and her running away and her reconciliation in the park? At what stage were they in their relationship by this?

13. Was it important that Portnoy took the Monkey to the continent? Were they happy in Rome? What was the purpose of the long sequence with the prostitute? Who was too blame for this? Was it Portnoy trying to act out his fantasies? Was it some kind of perversion on the Monkey's part? Was she trying then to do anything that he liked in order to keep him? what was the reaction to this sequence? Portnoy's being sick?

14. How saddening was the clash between them in Rome and then in Greece? Where was audience sympathy? Did you believe that she would throw herself out the window? Did he? What was the effect of this on Portnoy? Why?

15. How important was it for him to go to Israel? How did he hope to free himself from his heritage in Israel? Was this possible?

16. The character of Naomi? Portnoy's underestimating of her? Her strong-minded seriousness? Her encounter with him and the clash of intentions? Portnoy's lust compared with her straightforwardness? Was she right in her summing-up of him and her abusing him? Why? How did Portnoy see this in terms of religion, parents, sexual hang-ups?

17. How effective was the fantasy trial and executions? Did it sum up what had been happening? How did it come to fruition in Portnoy's crying? How had he liberated himself with the psychiatrist? Is this why the psychiatrist invited him back?

18. What really happened as regards the Monkey? Did she die or was this in Portnoy's mind? or is this question important?

19. How did the walk at the end contrast with the walk at the beginning? What had happened to Portnoy? The fact that the Monkey passed him in the street? The significance of this?

20. Critics generally panned this film? Why? Did it give insight into the theme? Human values, relationships etc.? For what audience was it made? why?