PASSION FISH
US, 1992, 135 minutes, Colour.
Mary Mc Donnell, Alfre Woodard, David Strathairn, Angela Bassett, Curtis Vondie -Hall.
Directed by John Sayles.
Passion Fish was written and directed by John Sayles. Sayles is a writer of popular films (including Alligator, Battle Beyond the Stars) and an independent film-maker with such fine films as Return of the Secaucus Seven, Baby It's You, Liana, Matewan, Eight Men Out, City of Hope, Lone Star, Men With Guns.
His films usually have large casts and are broad in scope. However, this film (although quite long) is really a chamber piece for two stars. Mary Mc Donnell is the soap opera star who is involved in an accident and becomes paraplegic, resenting her situation. She was Oscar-nominated for this role. Alfre Woodard is a young woman, recently released from drug rehabilitation, who takes on the job as nurse-companion. The expected clashes take place, the reconciliation also - but without American television-style sentimentality.
The film is serious and humorous, the soap opera star moving back to her native Louisiana and adapting to life in a more quiet situation. She is visited by various friends and relations, her gay uncle, girls from childhood and school, cast and director from the soap opera. She also observes the visits by the father of her companion bringing her young daughter whom she is not allowed to see, the young man with whom she is having an affair, the father of her daughter. She also is attached to her friend from her childhood, Rennie, a Cajun fisherman (played by David Strathairn).
Dialogue is strong, tensions, humour, insights into personalities and their interactions.
1.The title of the film? Rennie's explanation of passion fish and their symbolism?
2.John Sayles and the quality of his writing, direction and performances? The range of songs? Musical score?
3.The portrait of May- Alice and of Chantelle? The interaction between two women? Love-hate, friendship?
4.Mary Mc Donnell's performance, Oscar nomination? The impact of the accident? Her opening her eyes and discovering what had happened to her? Her resentment? In the hospital, her cantankerous behaviour with the staff? Her physical health improving, her attitude not improving? Physiotherapy, hospital treatment? Her realisation that her life had changed? Discharging herself, decision to have physiotherapy in Louisiana? Going to the family home, opening it up? Enclosing herself there? The nurse, throwing the food on the wall? Her problems? The decision to go to physiotherapy, the discussions with the physiotherapist and possibilities of healing and recovery? The decision to get a companion - and the humorous collage of the people applying for the job, the range of personalities, their all telling their problems to May- Alice? The arrival of Chantelle and her defiance? Her being hired?
5.May-Alice as Scarlet, her TV role? Her interviews, the soap opera situations, her fans, the visit of the cast to Louisiana and the talk, the plot lines - and outer space? Her own comments evaluating the soap operas, same channel soaps, the director and his plan for her future? Her decision to reject it?
6.May-Alice in Louisiana, coming to accept the accident, her silence, watching television, drinking, staying in the dark, arguing with people, being sorry for herself?
7.Chantelle and her arrival, May-Alice's treatment of her, the clash, accepting her? Chantelle knowing her secrets? The television, leaving her be? Chantelle's encouragement about the photographs, her taking the photographs, going out, alone? The frightening encounter with the black man and the background of drugs? Her learning some of the truth about Chantelle? Her own fears and prejudices? The visit of her girlfriends from schooldays, the comedy, the caricature of the Southern Belles? Their accent - and her re-owning her own? The kindling of memories?
8.The meeting with Rennie, the memories of the past, her estimation of him, attraction towards him? Watching him work? His explanation of the passion fish? The bonds, her love for him, listening to his story, his family? The boat ride? Building up her choices? Rennie as a character, in himself, as revealing May-Alice?
9.Chantelle's character, her arrival, appearance, wanting the job, not having experience in nursing care? Her angers? Possibilities for coping? Encouraging May-Alice? to take photos? Going out, the car, the encounter with Sugar, the friendliness, the dancing? The horses and her concern for her daughter? The music and the affair? The importance of her father's visit, bringing her daughter, her father giving her some respect and her demanding it? The differences? The father of her daughter and his appearance, the background of drugs in the past? Her hopes with Sugar - and her breaking off with him? Getting her life together?
10.The strength of John Sayles' dialogue, wit, emotion, power?
11.The range of supporting characters, vignettes in themselves, as illustrating the life and interactions of May-Alice? and Chantelle? Uncle Reeves and his studio, gay, his ambitions? (And May-Alice? examining the studio afterwards?) Sugar, his background, the horses, friendliness, the possibility of a future? The drug man and the revelation of the drug life and its power over Chantelle? Her father, so proper, caring for his granddaughter, severity with his daughter, the possibility of change? The range of fans and their adulation of May-Alice? Their inane comments? Her school friends and their way of life, the decades passing them by, their admiration for, jealousy of May-Alice? The range of nurses? The members of the cast, the new actress (and her rehearsing her one line)? The director?
12.The ultimate focus on May-Alice? and Chantelle, the strength of the two women, their ability to communicate, the possibilities of a growing friendship? An acceptance of each other and of life?
