CADENCE

US, 1990, 97 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, F. Murray Abraham, Laurence Fishburne.
Directed by Martin Sheen.

Cadence is an effective small budget film about a young man in 1965 and the effect of the army on him. The film is something of a family affair, directed and starring Martin Sheen. Sheen had played Charlie Sheen's father in Wall Street and his other son, Emilio Estevez's father in In The Custody of Strangers. Another brother, Ramon, appears in this film as the guard, Gerald Cessner.

Charlie Sheen is quite effective as the surly young man who loses his father, has been put in the army to toughen him up, wants to get out, is in the stockade for 90 days with a group of black prisoners. Despite his resistance to become part of their team, they shape his life and future. He also clashes with the Sergeant played as a martinet on the verge of breakdown by Martin Sheen himself. F Murray Abraham makes an appearance, unbilled, as the army lawyer. The film setting is in Germany but production was in British Columbia.

1. The title and its meaning, rhythms, rhythms of life?

2. The Montana and German settings - British Columbia? The musical score, the range of songs?

3. The period, 1965, the US, American military presence Vietnam? As seen in hindsight?

4. The focus on Franklin Ban, his travelling home, arrival, friends, the grief at his father's death, the memories of his father's toughness, the child's funeral with the entourage making way for his father's funeral, his weeping and looking at his father? The cemetery - and nobody speaking? The return to Germany, drinking in anger, the tattoos on his hand? The drinking, clash with the MPs?

5. His case, the deals, going to the stockade? His wanting to get out of the army? The encounter with Mc Kinney, his tough style?

6. The stockade and its effect, not wanting to be part of a team, Mc Kinney attacking him? His relationship with the white men, Gessner and Lamar? The black prisoners, the immediate reaction, his ignorance of African Americans, their testing him, the cigarettes, talk, not remembering names? The accusation about stealing his lighter? Fight and injury? His not telling Mc Kinney? The bonds between the prisoners? The basketball and the deal with Webb to fix the windmill? The singing and the dance movements in Europe, the shift to the shuffle? His bewilderment? Later learning the movements and joining in? The work, going off alone, the windmill and its fascination? The bonding of the men, living together, talking, playing, eating? Ban learning from them? Mc Kinney and his toughness, the interview and the personal appeal to him, his resisting it? Fixing the windmill and the success? The night and the rain parade, going to the windmill, Mc Kinney collapsing, the shooting of Crane and Ban trying to stop it? His evidence at the trial, their wanting Mc Kinney to hang, his telling the truth about his cry for help? The men turning away? His going to Vietnam? Alone, Webb returning the lighter, the men doing the shuffle, returning, his joining in? The visit to Mc Kinney and his turning his back on him? The changed man, much more mature, going to Vietnam? The blacks telling him to befriend the blacks who would look after him there?

7. Mc Kinney and his toughness, the caricature of the sergeant, the phone call to his wife, his anger with his son? Antagonism towards the blacks? Treating Ban differently? His favour towards Gerald and Lamar? The meals, watching the men? His drinking, playing pool and collapsing? The appeal to Ban, rehearsing it in his room, calling him by his son's name? His being rejected? The night parade, the shooting of Crane, the cry for help, his presence in the court, the mental collapse, in the cell and turning his back on Ban? The veteran from Korea who had nothing else but his military career? The lawyer, his deals for Ban for Mc Kinney, discussions with Ban about his future?

8. The men in the stockade: Stokes in charge, the background of their crimes, their personalities - black and framed for many of their crimes? Talk about Johnstone and Martin Luther King and civil rights? Crane and his genial nature, applauding Ban, Catholic, playing the piano and singing at the religious service? Wondering off? Shot? Webb as the fighter, taking the lighter, antagonism towards Ban? The basketball and his loosing, the deal? Returning the lighter? Brice and Lawrence, reading, their presence in the stockade? With the group? The hut, life together, work together, sport, the shuffle, work on the windmill, the meals? Their attitudes towards McKinney? - and wanting him to be convicted? Turning away from Ban and then acknowledging him?

9. Gessner and Lamar, prisoners, officers on duty, doing whatever Mc Kinney asked? Gessner and his strictness, pleased with the fixing of the windmill?

10. The stockade and the camp as a microcosm of the army, its ethos, the effect on individuals, relationship, the militaristic style and drilling? The commune shaping the individual, part of the team? Our seeing Ben's personal growth?