THE REBOUND
US, 2009, 92 minutes. Colour.
Catherine Zeta- Jones, Justin Bartha, Art Garfunkel, Joanna Gleason.
Directed by Bart Freundlich.
The Rebound is a rather slight romantic comedy, interesting in its presentation of the age difference between the two involved in a relationship, the older woman and the younger man.
Catherine Zeta- Jones is a forty-year-old wife and mother who has given up a career for her marriage and family. However, she discovers her husband cheating on her. She leaves with her daughter and moves to New York City. In the meantime we see a young Jewish man, rather retiring, who had married a French girl in order for her to get a green card and then she had abandoned him. He has a dominating Jewish mother played by Joanna Gleeson and a rather compliant father played by Art Garfunkel.
The film shows the young man becoming friendly with the mother and daughter, becoming the nanny, relating well to the daughter, falling in love with the mother – who takes some time to realise the nature of his love and devotion. There are criticisms of their relationship, especially from his parents. He decides then to travel the world and returns after five years having adopted a son in Bangladesh. He is with his family when he accidentally bumps into Catherine Zeta-Jones? and her daughter. The group then have a meal – and open up possibility for the future.
The two leads are persuasive in their roles. The direction is by Bart Freundlich, television director who has made some serious films about relationships including The Myth of Fingerprints and Trust the Man.
1. The title, marriage, the break, divorce, compensations, rebounds?
2. Marriage breakdown, relationships, partnerships, age differences?
3. The presuppositions about men and women in society, as regards employment and jobs, as staying home with the family, as relating to the children, male and female nannies? Issues of age differences and experience?
4. New York City, the coffee shop, the apartments, the workplaces, the outings, the restaurants? Lifestyle?
5. Catherine Zeta-Jones? as Sandy, her age, forty, her experience of marriage, her dealing with her children, their being outspoken? Statistics and graphs and her hobby? Her seeing her husband – and her anger? The separation?
6. Going to New York City, the children in tow, the job applications, the interviewer, discussions, her attitudes, women working together, preparing material, statistics, promoted to do writing for the television show, her success, becoming an anchorwoman, her zest?
7. The children, their age, their way of talking, relating to their father, going to the session with their mother about anger management? Seeing Aram and his being the object of battering? Sandy and her apologies for her breakout?
8. Aram, his parents, the dominating mother, the more passive father, their expectations of him, his study, his marrying the Frenchwoman, her getting the green card, her previous relationship and going off with her alleged brother? His not divorcing her in case she lost the green card? Selling coffee, his friend, his friend’s comments, acting career? Aram as more easygoing? His interview, being the object of battery by the range of clients, the woman in charge and the various moves? His reaction to Sandy? With the kids, his becoming a father figure accepting the job of nanny, sharing so much with them, activities, reading, talking, the effect on him?
9. Sandy and her friend, arranging the date, the chiropractor and his going to the toilet, his unhygienic manner? Her resistance? Chatting with her friend, the exercise and the gym, the bars, going to yoga with her boss? Time passing, her relying on Aram when she was busy? The date, their going to the auditions, the party afterwards?
10. The friendship between the two, their ability to talk things over, the bond, the presuppositions, Sandy’s husband turning up, creating a scene? Aram returning, the sexual encounter, the kids and their asking embarrassing questions? The reaction?
11. The two as partners, the different life and style? The reaction of Aram’s parents? The birthday and the celebration, the gifts, the gift of the photo, the mother giving the gift of the watch?
12. Sandy and the effect, the relationships, the discussions with Aram – the age difference and the decision to break?
13. Aram, his travel, the passing of the years, his experience, international, his return, his son and the adoption? Meeting Sandy?
14. Sandy and the passing of the years, her work and success? The effect of Aram?
15. Their gathering at the table, making acquaintance again, the talk – and the opening for the future? The issues unresolved except for an acknowledgment of the importance of love?
