REMEMBRANCE OF LOVE

US, 1982, 100 minutes, Colour.
Kirk Douglas, Pam Dawber, Eric Douglas.
Directed by Jack Smight.

Remembrance of Love is a romantic telemovie, a movie of memories and nostalgia. It focuses on Jews who had experienced the concentration camps, the 40 years after the war, the reunions in Israel and the memories of the Holocaust.

The film is a vehicle for Kirk Douglas who portrays a widower going to Israel to try to find the young girl that he had left behind in war-torn Poland. Television's Pam Dawber portrays his reporter daughter. There is a strong Israeli cast in support.

The film-uses Israeli locations to great effect - even with the tourist touch. These contrast with the evocation of Poland during the war. The film is sad, romantic, rueful. It was directed by Jack Smight, veteran of many movies of the '60s and '70s including The Moving Target, The Third Day.

1. An enjoyable and interesting telemovie? old world and the new? Of love, suffering?

2. The impact of the film for the telemovie audience? Characters, moods, issues?

3. The title and the 1980s, memory, the past, suffering, love, regrets, ageing?

4. American and Israeli locations? The colourful presentation of Jerusalem and the countryside of Israel? The evocation of Polish locations for the war? Musical score?

5. The film as a Kirk Douglas vehicle, his presence, persuasive?

6. Joseph and his past, his age and youthfulness, the ghetto, the Nazis, the plight of the Jews -in Poland, his mission, his love for the girl, her pregnancy, losing her, the concentration camp, new life?

7. The girl and her love for Joseph, her pregnancy, losing him, the concentration camp, her child, killing it, a new life?

8. The Holocaust theme in the '70s and '80s? Its effect on some of the survivors, Joseph and his not mentioning it to his family, his decision to go to the reunion, the planeload of Jews going to Israel, the reporters? The variety of types - Jewish humour? The woman and her pushiness, the older men and women and their memories? Tours of Israel, the ceremonies, the songs? Speeches and message?

9. Joseph and his search, befriending the actor on the plane, the computer, the woman who knew his friend, meeting her and her fainting, their time together, sharing, memories, the truth, the sexual encounter? Having to break? The effect on Joseph?

10. The woman and her fainting at seeing Joseph, her husband and her marriage, her sharing with Joseph, the truth of the circumstances, their night together, her decision that time and circumstances had changed? Their presence at the final ceremony?

11. Marcy and her work, the security officer and her anger, her encounter with him, dating, sharing, the sexual liaison, falling in love, the security, the chase and the explosions, the hospital? Talking together? her decision to stay in Israel?

12. Marcy and her anger with her father, challenging her, her concern about her mother and her father's love for her, the clash between father and daughter, sorting the issues out, reconciliation?

13. The theme of personal journey, people getting in touch with their past, exorcising their memories, facing the future?