THE LEMON SISTERS
US, 1990, 90 minutes, Colour.
Diane Keaton, Carol Kane, Kathryn Grody, Eliot Gould, Aidan Quinn, Ruben Blades, Nathan Lane.
Directed by Joyce Chopra.
The Lemon Sisters is a slight vehicle for Diane Keaton, supported by Carol Kane. It enables Diane Keaton to do her kooky style of eccentric, manner, clothes, singing… Carol Kane is a good support – being even more kooky, especially in her singing.
The film is a film about friendship (set in Atlantic City as was Beaches, a more upbeat and slighter version of Beaches). Kathryn Grody is the voice-over narrator of this story which shows three young girls in 1959 and their friendship (using black and white) and then in the 1982 setting, their continued friendship, their difficulties especially in relationships and in financial matters.
Elliot Gould is low key as Kathryn Grody’s husband, the makers of toffee on the boardwalk who suffer decline when the casinos move in. Aidan Quinn is an agent who tries to promote Carol Kane’s career. Ruben Blades is the taxi driver in love with Diane Keaton who cannot come to terms with it. Nathan Lane appears towards the end of the film in a small role as an entrepreneur.
The film is slight, humorous, sentimental – a portrait of women and a warm perspective on women’s friendship.
1. An entertaining film? For male audiences? But, especially, for female audiences? Portrait of women? Women’s friendships?
2. The Atlantic City setting, the black and white photography for 1959? The 1950s and the atmosphere of the city, casinos, a New Jersey city? The contrast with the colour, 1982, the development of the casinos, the changes in the city?
3. The portrait of American families? The three girls? Their parents, growing up? The style of the 1950s? Families in the 1980s? Marriage, children?
4. The importance of music? The songs? Stop in the Name of Love, Rawhide…? The performances by the three actresses? The bars, the lounges? The musical entertainment?
5. The title, the reference to the three women, their friendship?
6. The portrait of each of the women? Diane Keaton as Eloise, her style? Leadership? Performance? The contrast with Carol Kane as Franki? Her singing style? Personality? The comparison with Nola? Singing style? Her marriage to Fred? The toffee on the boardwalk?
7. The film’s attention to detail, the lives of the girls, their home life, their friendships, ups and downs?
8. The supporting gallery of characters? C.W. and his attentions? Frankie McGuinness? and the taxi? Mrs Kupchak? Baxter O’ Neill? Nicholas Panas? The flavour of the period and the characters?
9. A satisfying entertainment, slight, but humane?
