PROMISED LAND
US, 1988, 101 minutes, Colour.
Keifer Sutherland, Meg Ryan, Jason Gedrick, Tracey Pollan.
Directed by Michael Hoffman.
Promised Land is a small-budget feature about American youth in the '80s. Written and directed by Michael Hoffman, it was financially and artistically assisted by Robert Redford's Sundance Institute. It offers roles for emerging stars: Jason Gedrick (Iron Eagle, Heavenly Kid, Rooftops), Kiefer Sutherland (Bay Boy, Young Guns, Renegades) and Meg Ryan (DOA, Inner Space, Presidio, When Harry Met Sally).
The film establishes the four characters, their place in the town, hopes and ambitions. It then moves two years and shows what has happened to the characters, and their tragic coming together again. The film is not strong on dramatic plot and momentum, rather it highlights the characters and their interactions. There is a varied musical score by James Newton Howard, combining rather dramatic pieces with popular music and religious hymns. As the title indicates, the film is a piece of Americana.
1.A portrait of American youth? The title? America as the promised land - and the comments made about the country during the film?
2.The small town, Utah and Arizona? The details of the town, homes, police station, school and basketball stadium? The musical score and its blend of thematic background, pop music, religious hymns?
3.A small-budget project? The quality of the production? The emerging stars?
4.The opening with its setting: the importance of the basketball match, the small town in support, David as hero, the coach, Danny and his support? The celebration? Danny and his place in the family, saying goodbye? His relationship with David and Mary, the gift, the car breaking down and David fixing it? His leaving? The bonds between the three? David and Mary and their love? Future?
5.The transition to two years later and the date of December 22? Mary and her return from college, the encounter with the young man in the supermarket? David and his work for the police, little to do, basketball with his assistant? Target practice?
6.Danny and Beverley, living in squalor, the relationship? No indication as to what had happened in the two years? Danny and his quiet dependence? Beverley and her loud mouth, her hair and dress? Extrovert? Her decision to marry, the tawdry ceremony, having to pay the money, the decision to drive home? Going across 500 miles of desert? The effect on Danny, on Beverley - and her getting out into the desert, excited?
7.Mary and David: at home, trying to talk, the strain in their relationship? Mary and her dating another man? David and his visit to the old lady, her cat? The talk, his memories of the possibility of the basketball scholarship, the failure, going home? His dreams?
8.Danny and Beverley arriving home, the town, the phone call? Greeting his mother? The meal? Going to talk with his father - his love for him but the inability to communicate? His concern about his dying? His decision to go out? The drinks, the friends in the town? Beverley and her ridiculing of him? Mocking his lack of achievement? Their going to the supermarket, holding up the young man? The toy pistol? The need for money? their going out to the car?
9.David and Mary, their clash, the Christmas atmosphere, the singing of carols? Mary getting out of the car, hurt? Getting back in, the need to go to the robbery? David and his stalking the robbers, holding them up, shooting? The discovery that it was Danny? His shooting Beverley in the leg? His grief, anger, driving desperately with Mary? His going to Mr Rivers, explaining the death, his apology? Waiting for Mrs Rivers?
10.The pathos of Danny's death? His nickname of Senator - and the hopes? Beverley and her injury, bewilderment?
11.David and his resigning from the police force? Mary there to support him? A possible future?
12.A glimpse of a small American town, the promised land and its hopes and frustration? A microcosm of America?
