A WARM DECEMBER
UK, 1972, 101 minutes, Colour.
Sidney Poitier, Esther Anderson, Yvette Curtis. George Baker, Johnny Sekka.
Directed by Sidney Poitier.
Guess Who's Coming to Love Story? Sidney Poitier acting in and directing a very pleasant sentimental romance with tears for all. Heroic doctor Sidney, widower with cute daughter and motor bike, vacationing in London meets mysterious, but charming, African girl and what follows is love and pain and the whole damn thing. Poitier is his usual genial self. Esther Anderson is a very attractive heroine and a pretty summer England offers pleasing backgrounds for romance and some dialogue and situation pieces on emerging Black Africa. It's all been done before, but the Poitier touch makes it just that bit more poignant, just that bit more acceptable and enjoyable.
1. How did the name indicate the theme of the film and imply the overtones of the love story?
2. Why do people always respond to love stories like this? Is it because people are sentimental? Or because people value relationships between men and women and appreciate love?
3. Was this a good love story? A realistic and effective love story? Was sentiment rightly balanced in it? Did it show insight into the love and pain of love?
4. What impact did the contact between American and English societies have? Was a love story like this possible only in England? Would it have had this quality in America? Why?
5. How attractive a personality was Dr. Matthew Younger as a man? as an American, as black, as a Doctor, as a compassionate man, as the father of his daughter? How important for the film was it that Sidney Poitier played Dr. Younger? Was Dr. Younger too noble a hero? Was he a credible personality? The added touch of his enthusiasm for motor bikes?
6. The importance of establishing the English atmosphere quickly, the airport, white and black friends, the at -homeness of the Youngers in England etc.?
7. Were you intrigued, like Matthew Younger with Catherine? How attractive a personality was she? Comment on the film's techniques for making her mysterious at the beginning? Or making her share Dr. Younger's curiosity?
8. Why did Dr. Younger respond to her and continue to track her? (the humour of his getting rid of Catherine's pursuers).
9. Were you surprised to find out who Catherine was? Did you realise the consequences of this for their friendship?
10. How attractive a person was Catherine? The performance and personality of Esther Anderson? Her elusive personality? Her charm, her easiness as a person and as a diplomat?
11. Was it credible that the love should be consummated so quickly? Were they really in love? or did this develop later?
12. Were you surprised to learn the nature of Catherine's illness? Or did this add to the atmosphere of the film and the audience's emotional response to the love?
13. What complications did Dr. Younger's daughter add to the film? To the possibilities of love and marriage? The impact of Dr. Younger's former wife on himself, on his daughter, on Catherine?
14. Did the political background of emerging Africa add to the film? Did it seem added on as part of Negro propaganda? Or was it well and interestingly integrated into the film?
15. The importance of the holiday sequences for them all living in the home, meals, the ordinary happiness of a family life? The added interest of the motor bike racing?
16. The importance of the sequences of Catherine's illness? How well done were they? What impact did they have on the audience in themselves? As the audience realised the consequences and the necessity of choice?
17. Did Catherine make the right choice for herself? How soon would she die? For Matthew Younger was it better that they should separate and that he should not suffer with her as she died? For the little girl?
18. Considering the conventions of love stories, was this film good of its kind? Why?
19. Films like this are very entertaining for popular audiences. Do they offer insight to these audiences into the realities of human life, affection, choices?
