A NIGHT IN HEAVEN

US, 1983, 81 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Atkins, Leslie Ann Warren, Robert Logan, Carrie Snodgress.
Directed by John G. Avildsen.

A Night in Heaven is a brief running film. It feels that it should be more, especially towards the end of the film. The screenplay was written by Joan Tewkesbury, writer of such interesting films as Robert Altman's Nashville and writer-director of Old Boyfriends and The Tenth Month. The film focuses on a teacher, rather repressed in her sexuality, her estrangement from her scientist husband and her outing with her sister to a ladies' night at an establishment with male stripers. She finds one of her students the star stripper. She has a brief affair before being disillusioned by him.

Leslie Ann Warren is very good as the teacher. Christopher Atkins fills the part of the student (better as the stripper than as the student!). Robert Logan is her husband. The film was directed by John G. Avildsen (Oscar for Rocky, director of such films as Neighbours, The Karate Rid trio and Rocky V). Avildsen also edits his own features.

1. Impact of the film? The title, the reference for Kay, for Ricky?

2. The atmosphere, the town, the laboratories and space technology, the school, the diners and hotels, the clubs and the striptease? Musical score?

3. Who is the main focus of the film? Kay or Rick or both?

4. The portrait of Kay: Her relationship with Whitney, communication with him and lack of communication? Her work as a teacher, listening to Rick's speech, her strong condemnation of his flippancy, Urging him to study more? Going out with her sister and the women? Her reaction to the club. being mesmerised by Rick, his kissing her? The encounter with her, his tenderness? Her return home, discussions with her husband, his loss of job? Going out with her sister again, the return to the club, leaving? Staying at the hotel with her sister and her sister's returning home? The encounter with Rick, meeting his mother. the question of the pass and the exam? His backing down and deciding to do more study? The sexual encounter. sensuality? Trying to contact her husband? The return to the hotel, discovering Rick with the girl? Her disillusionment, going home, acknowledging the reality to her husband, his admitting his infidelity? Their being reunited?

5. Whitney, skills, inventor, his bike? His not wanting to submit his work for defence? Being sacked, leaving, going home, looking at the photo, morose? Morose with his wife? Meeting the old friend, being with her? Suspicions of Rick, meeting him, seeing him in the television monitor? The gun? With him on the boat, threatening him, shooting to frighten him? Reconciliation with his wife?

5. Rick, young man, friends at the gym, striptease and taking it for granted? At school, his speech - with the touch of flippancy? His mother and sister? Girlfriend and her car? Dancing and stripping, with Kay, the sensuality?. Meeting her introducing her to his mother? His bond with his mother? His friends? Picking up Kay, the time with her, sexuality and sensuality? With the girl in the shower? His attempt to apologise? His fear when threatened by Whitney? His future?

6. The sister, her visiting her sister, going to the strip show, her drinking? The affair? Alienation from her husband? His humiliating her? Her wanting something more? The return home?

7. Rick's mother, her work, her son supporting her?

8. The girls and girlfriend, TV ads, at the strip shows?

9. The men, the gymnasium work, dancing and stripping? The reaction of the women? Their behaviour, dancing, sexy?

10. The focus of the film, its point, questioning of relationships, values, sexuality?