BEYOND OBSESSION
US, 1990, 95 minutes, Colour.
Henry Thomas, Victoria Principal, Emily Warfield, Joe Regalbuto, Donnelly Rhodes.
Directed by David Greene.
Beyond Obsession is based on the story of Traci Di Carlo. It is also the story of her dominating mother Eleanor, a neurotic perfectionist who psychologically abused her daughter, sometimes violently, so that her daughter conspired with a boyfriend for her murder.
The film shows us the mother's treatment of daughter in flashbacks, a cumulative effect. However, early in the film, the murder is committed (by Henry Thomas playing the boyfriend). However, we get to understand his point of view and, in the latter part of the film, the effect of the mental abuse on Traci herself.
Victoria Principal gives an icy performance as the elegant, dominating, perfectionist mother who even makes up lies about her own life, her husband - only wanting an elegant life story. The film focuses also on the '90s issues of parents' abuse of children.
1.Interesting telemovie? Family themes? Parents and children? Psychological abuse? Violence? A theme of the '90s?
2.The American settings, homes, courts - and authentic atmosphere? The musical score?
3.The title and the focus on each of the central characters?
4.Eleanor Di Carlo as played by Victoria Principal? First seeing her at the music tutor's house, her decisions about her daughter, her health and migraines, in the car, throwing the pop cassette out the window? The next scene her murder? Audience reaction to her - sympathy or not? Victim of violence? The cumulative effect of the flashbacks: with Traci as a little girl, urging her to practice, dress elegantly, correcting her, humiliating her, the incident with the chocolate cakes and the refrigerator fall? Traci growing up, the absence of her father? The stories her mother told her? Wanting to please her mother? Her mother pushing her to Karl, the tutor? Wanting a marriage? Her using John, John as chauffeur, listening to Traci, his being humiliated at the table? The relationship of Eleanor with her husband, despising him? Warning Traci against men? The effect of this portrait of the mother?
5.Traci in the light of the portrait of her mother? Seeing her with Karl, playing the piano, her conspiracy with the killing? Playing the piano while her mother was being murdered? With the police, her denials, the court? The phone call to John? The flashbacks and the relationship with him? The character as emerging from her mother's dominance, the episodes when she was a little girl, the piano, times, dress, chocolate cake, humiliation? Her disowning John? Her friendship with Laura and Laura's seeming betrayal? With the lawyers, the discussion? John's sentencing? Her own court case, the psychologist, the discussions? The portrait of a dominated character? Wanting to please? Not knowing what was right or wrong in her own regard, regards her mother? Her acquittal on one charge? The prospect of the further court case?
6.John, his relationship with Traci, chauffeur, depended on, then humiliated, at table? Urging Traci against her mother? His explanation to the lawyers and in the court about his wanting to save her? The violence of the killing? Traci's diary and his finding out about her relationship with Karl? The support of Laura? His decision to plead guilty? The sentence, coming from prison, his feelings for Traci being dead? Testimony against her?
7.Laura, friendship, disbelieving, leaving Traci? Friendship with John and support of him?
8.The lawyer and his team, perceptions of Traci, sending her to the psychologist, the psychologist listening, building up a portrait? Presence in court? The decision as regards Traci's defence? Her testimony?
9.A portrait of family, abuse, the father in the background coming finally to support his daughter? The inherent violence in this kind of family and society?
