PLENTY
UK, 1985, 124 minutes, Colour.
Meryl Streep, Sam Neill, Charles Dance, Tracy Ullmann, John Gielgud, Sting, Ian Mc Kellan.
Directed by Fred Schepisi.
Plenty is based on a play by English writer David Hare (Wetherby). It was brought to the screen by Australian director, Fred Schepisi (Devil's Playground, Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Evil Angels, Roxanne, Barbarossa, Iceman).
It has a very strong cast led by Meryl Streep, performing most creditably and credibly as an English woman. Charles Dance is her bewildered husband, John Gielgud a politician at the time of Suez, Sam Neill as friend from the days in occupied France.
The film is symbolic: the heroine, Susan, portrays an English woman from 1943 to the '60s. She represents the changes in Britain, in the British Empire - and its decline.
Literate, beautifully photographed, a cerebral drama about England.
1. The impact of the drama, human nature and interaction, social comment?
2. The work of the playwright, stage background, scenes and acts, cinematic style?
3. French locations at beginning and end, London and the changing decades, the sequences in Jordan? The atmosphere of World War Two and occupied France, post-war Britain, Britain of the '50s and '60s? Location photography, authentic atmosphere? Panavision? Musical score?
4. The title and its application to Susan, to England?
5. The war, occupied France, Susan from England, the parachute landings, the arrival of Lazar? The cover, the hostage deaths in the town? Susan relating well to Lazar, talk of home, affection, lovemaking? The gift of cufflinks and her keeping them? In the town, his bicycle departure and wave? Introduction*to Susan, the beginning of a portrait? her patriotism presence in France, danger, exhilaration, hopes?
6. The immediate aftermath of the war in Europe? Susan's marriage of convenience, her husband's death? Having to cope, in the hotel? Symbol of post-war Europe? Raymond and his diplomacy, help, talk and reassurance, emotional involvement with Susan? Darwin and his presence in Europe, diplomacy, friendship?
7. Susan's return to England, the late 40s, the friendship with Alice, offbeat Alice sharing the flat together? Conventional of the years, the accession of the Queen, England and fuss? Susan's decision that Mick, the discussion and the proposal, his 13 months, the failure? Her reaction to the effect on him? Her moving on, going, considering herself above all this? office work? At work, jobs, and her influence on Susan, and unconventional? The passing the coronation, the celebrations? she wanted a child, singling out s acceptance, the attempts, the Mick? The break between the two, to work in television?
8. Her collapse? In hospital, Raymond's coming, his help? carrying and rehabilitating her? 1956, the Suez crisis, the conservatives? The dinner party? The Burmese and their talk, admiration for Darwin? Darwin and his work in the Foreign Office, the Suez crisis, his resignation? His presence at the party, his concern about Susan, about Raymond, his edge in conversation, especially to the Burmese (about Ingmar Bergman)? Susan and her blunt talk, dominating, opinions, observations? The break-up of the party? Raymond and his career, jobs?
9. The liability of his wife? The years in Jordan, Susan subdued, drugs, working in the library, the passing of the years, demure in her manner, Alice's visit and stirring her up, the tourism, discussions about the Middle East? her decision to return for Darwin's funeral? Never going back to Jordan?
10. The return to England, the '60s? Her friendship with Alice? Her relationship with her husband? His career and the Common Market? The visit to Sir Andrew, the frank discussion, promoting her husband's cause, his equal bluntness to her, about, Raymond and his about herself? her taking some blame for his fall - in his career? Her return home, the packing, the fighting, the bleeding nose? her departure?
11. The television programme, the espionage and resistance groups being interviewed, low-key style, her memories? Lazar meeting her, the sexual liaison, her hopes, her falling asleep - and his leaving?
12. Susan eventually withdrawing - memories, the beauty of France in the past, with the old man? Dreams of heroism and hope?
13. Lazar, his work in the war, relationship to Susan, the passing of 20 years, the new meeting, seeing the cufflinks, leaving?
14. Raymond as the essential civil servant, diplomacy after the war, his kindness, love for Susan, rescuing her? Marriage, her status? His own work, loyalties? Friendship with Darwin? Uncomfortable with Susan's behaviour? The years in Jordan, peace and quiet? regret in returning to London, Darwin's funeral, work? The interview with Sir Andrew, his loss of status, bewilderment? Plea for her to remember his kindness?
15. As an ordinary woman, love with Susan, agreeing to become the father of her child, the attempts, failure, her rejection of him?
16. Darwin, the elder statesman, the war, friendship with Susan and Raymond, Alice?, The Suez crisis, in his office, resenting being lied to, his letter of resignation? His behaviour at the dinner party? The small funeral?
17. Sir Andrew and the other echelons of government, empire, the civil service? His explanations to Susan, his manner, the testing of Raymond, the file? His rejection of Susan, of Raymond? Cool exercise of power?
18. Alice, in herself, her friendship, sharing with Susan, the effect on her? Present at the dinner? The visit to Jordan and changing Susan and Raymond's condemnation?
19. The gallery of characters: the French Resistance personnel, the people working in the offices? In British television in the '50s, the Burmese dinner guests, the civil servants?
20. How interesting an allegory of England and its decline? Through a persuasive human experience?
