BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE
US, 95 minutes, 1993, Colour.
Patrick van Horn, Susan Lucci, Bruce Bostwick, Cameron Daddo.
Directed by Rod Hardy.
Between Love and Hate is an American soap opera telemovie, showing the seduction of an idle affluent woman of an earnest swimming coach-student. Susan Lucci plays the woman. Patrick van Horn (Swingers) plays the young man. He becomes fully infatuated, believing that this is love. He also has the background of a brutal father and a weak mother and has attempted suicide.
The film shows the development of his obsession, the woman trying to avoid any kind of embarrassment from the revelation of the affair. It ends melodramatically.
1.Interesting soap opera telemovie? For the home audience? The characters, situations, characterisations of soap opera?
2.The affluent American atmosphere, of the wealthy homes, the contrast with Matt's own home? The country club set? Musical score?
3.The title - as explained by Matt, his experience with Vivienne, infatuation and love, the turning to hate?
4.The plausibility of the plot: the idle wife and mother, affluence, the summer, the absent husband, choosing a young man to seduce, the short-lived affair, giving him presents, discarding him? The gullible young man and his being flattered, drawn in, thinking it was an experience of love? Not listening to advice from anyone? The plausibility of the final violence?
5.Vivienne, her background, relationship with her husband and his business absences, keeping up appearances? HEr love for her daughter, winning the swimming race, the medal? The choice of Matt? Inviting him home, the meal, flattering him, the gift of the shirt, the seductive moves? The affair and its effect on her? Her talking about it with Jackie? His wanting to reveal the truth, her skill in covering up, going away with her husband for the week, the phone calls? His coming to the house, her covering her tracks? His going back to school, her writing the letters? His confrontations, her embarrassment, the restaurant, his being sacked? The final violence and her death?
6.Matt, the brutality of his father, his love for his mother, their house? Student and serious? Friendship with Alec - and the talk about sex? His naivety? Working in the swimming pool, friendship with Lauren, her winning? The response to Vivienne, going to her home? His being flattered, the shirt, sexual encounters, falling in love? Going to the gala dinner, his meeting Vivienne, her husband? The continuance of the affair and its effect on him? His father coming back home, his brutality, his mother? Their finding out and the confrontation? His wanting it to continue, be public? The going back to school, his going to the house and intruding? His going back to school, the phone calls, the letters? His being hurt, publishing Vivienne's letter in the club? His violent response, his being sacked? The brutality in his own house, getting the gun, shooting Vivienne? Willingly going with the police?
7.Alec, friendship, talk about sex, urging Matt on? The truth about Vivienne and his revelation about himself?
8.Justin, the absent husband, keeping up appearances, allowing his wife to have her affairs? His treatment of Matt, polite, then getting him sacked?
9.Jackie, friendship, knowing the truth, supportive of Vivienne? The embarrassment of the revelation?
10.The usual story of seduction? The young man and his disbelief that this was not love? The disillusionment? The consequences?
