WAITING FOR THE LIGHT

US, 1990, 94 minutes, Colour.
Shirley Mac Laine, Teri Garr, Clancy Brown.
Directed by Christopher Monger.

Waiting for the Light is a piece of light and slight Americana, written and directed by Christopher Monger. It is set in 1962, echoes of the Kennedy administration, tensions with the Soviet Union, Nikita Kruschev, Fidel Castro, the Cuban missile crisis and the need for building shelters and the training for `duck and cover'.

However, the film focuses on a mother and her two children, she a theatre box office seller, they mischievous at school. Her husband has walked out on her. However, living with them is their Aunt Zena, formerly of a circus and performer of magic tricks, especially at children's parties. They get the opportunity to move west to Washington State, redecorate a diner that they have been left by their uncle. Next door is a sullen man, with a reputation of being mad. Cantankerous, he forbids the children to have his apples. They try to scare him with some of the magic tricks. He thinks that he has seen a vision and it has transformed his life. Pilgrimages start and there is talk of prayer and miracles.

While the whole thing is a set-up, the movie seems to be saying that God moves in mysterious ways. There is a strange kind of Providence - even at the end when there are signs as a tree is struck by lightning, Aunt Zena, who has had a stroke, recovers and the family is able to sell the diner at a profit. The background of Gospel and fundamentalist religion is continually highlighted throughout the film from the very opening song with `Jesus and the Atom Bomb' to the Methodist ministers out in the wilds and the specious preachers who turn up to exploit miracles.

The film is a star vehicle for Shirley Mac Laine as Aunt Zena, a mixture of her role in Steel Magnolias with Madame Suzatska. She relishes it and makes a strong impact. Terri Garr has a secondary role as her rather normal niece trying to cope.

A film of genial entertainment.

1.A piece of Americana, family life, human relationships? Providence, scepticism and religious interpretation?

2.The atmosphere of Chicago, the contrast with the forests of the west coast? The world of the diner? The orchard and garden? The importance of the special effects for the magic tricks, for the vision? The musical score and the range of songs?

3.The title and its religious overtones? As applied in the film - and the response of the variety of characters?

4.The credits sequence, the song about Jesus hitting like an atom bomb? The visuals of the history of the atomic age? Newsreel footage of 1962, the war, J.F. Kennedy, the Cuban missile crisis? The training for duck and cover? The politicians and their commentary on the crisis of the time?

5.Kay, Eddie and Emily, their absent father, Charlie and his attentions? Kay working in the cinema, the kids wanting to get in? At home and her exasperation? Managing? Zena's presence? The kids as ordinary and extraordinary - the magic tricks at the party and the children screaming? Emily and the prank with the thumbs, Eddie exploding in class? The teacher and her fainting, her reporting the children to their mother?

6.Zena, her circus background, Shirley Maclaine's presence and style, the bizarre make-up and wig? Her magic, her attitudes towards Kay, towards the children, playing with them? Her offbeat comments? The will and their inheriting the diner?

7.The farewell, leaving Charlie? (His coming again at the end of the film and their return to Chicago with him?) The visuals of the trip, the kids fighting? Exasperation, the long distance? The quiet town? Having a meal at the diner and the proprietor wishing them luck, they would need it?

8.The arrival, the initial impact? Kay trying to make good? Fixing up the diner? Reverend Stevens and his friendship, his visits? His attentions to Kay? Zena's comments? Zena reading the Informer with all its outlandish stories? The kids playing, making friends with the neighbours? Being cantankerous with Tommy? Their dislike of Mullins, taking the apples, his giving them a fright? The success of the diner?

9.The decision to play the trick on Mullins, Zena helping, the ghost and the explosion, the record? The effect on Mullins, watching him the next day staring into space? His religious interpretation, his testimony, going to church and proclaiming the story of the angel? Reverend Stevens and his listening, wary reaction? The people going to the orchard, listening to Mullins, watching the sunlight come, the outline of Jesus on the trunk of the tree? The reactions in the media, the papers, television? The onlookers coming into the diner and talking, staying? The success of the diner? Kay having to manage - but mixing up the orders, Zena not helping? The range of people? The context of prayer for the dangers of war and the missiles?

10.Joe turning up, nice man, living with their uncle, helping around the place, talking, friendship?

11.The pilgrims, the selling of the candles? Zena and her giving information to the media man? Eddie letting him photograph for $10? Meanwhile the background of school, training, ducking and covering? The need for bomb shelters? The plan to continue the scheme - Zena and her motives? The candle and its glow? People confirmed, the range of people coming, including nuns? Candles and shrines?

12.Zena and her stroke, her poor health, the doctor's comments? Kay and her coping? Eddie, his fear, wanting to tell the truth, burning the $10? Wanting Zena to be well, taking the blame? Emily and her harder stance? Emily wanting to do a new trick? Their enlisting Joe's help?

13.The lightning strike, the tree? People aghast? Reverend Stevens and his change of heart? The media man and his scepticism and his giving testimony? Mullins and his delight - and thanking the children and giving them apples? Zena shocked out of her stroke and becoming well again? The man from the town wanting to buy them out? Charlie turning up and their returning to Chicago?

14.The happy ending in the American way?

15.A piece of Americana, religious scepticism and gullibility? The theme of providence and miracles - who knows in what way God will work and through what instruments?