I'M DANCING AS FAST AS I CAN

US, 1982, 107 minutes, Colour.
Jill Clayburgh, Nicol Williamson, Diane Wiest, Joe Pesci, Geraldine Page, Albert Salmi, Ellen Greene, Richard Masur.
Directed by Jack Hofsis.

I'm Dancing As Fast As I Can is based on the autobiography by Barbara Cordon. Jill Clayburgh, in a powerful performance, appears as Barbara Cordon - her career as a film-maker, her addiction to Vallium, psychological trauma, Vallium withdrawal, coping with life. She is supported by Nicol Williamson as Derek. There is a marvellous performance by Geraldine Page as Jean, a poet dying of cancer, who has strong influence on Barbara Cordon's life.

The film is a piece of contemporary Americana, showing the pressure of working in the media, manipulating images. It also shows the reliance on drugs for tranquilising, Vallium, and withdrawal from any addiction. Jill Clayburgh is able to portray the character of Barbara Gordon quite powerfully.

The film had very limited release in theatres - possibly too hard for audiences. However, as a character study and as a focus on contemporary addictions, it is well worth sitting through and reflecting on.

1. The impact of the drama? Not popular with cinema audiences? The significance of its character portraits and themes?

2. A piece of Americana, American media, television? The portrait of hospitals? mental institutions? The '80s? The musical score and the moods of the film?

3. The title and its reference to the humorous story that Jean told about the man going to a hotel for a weekend and talking to his dancing partner - who responded with the sentence of the title?

4. Jean's story: the making of the documentary, rehearsals, editing, her colleague's critique of the ending and its unreal happiness? Barbara and her efforts? Her optimistic outlook? Saying that Jean would get better? Discussions about death? Jean in herself, her poetry, her insights? Her illness and being in hospital? Ben and his continued support? The phone calls with Barbara? Her watching the Emmy Awards and pleased at Barbara's win? The screening of the documentary? The nurse coming in and talking over the screening? Barbara's hostile reaction? Her misinterpreting Jean's remark about unmitigated gall'? Barbara's collapse? Jean's leaving the hospital? Her telling Barbara that the film was an abuse, unreality, a Valium movie?

5. Jean's visit to Barbara in the mental institution after her trip away? The sharing, Jean's apology? The discussions about the ending? Her help? Barbara's final visit? Her illness? Her talking and wisdom? The news about her death? The new ending of the film? The film enabling Jean to live? Enabling Barbara to come back from the dead? Barbara walking along the beach in Jean's place - Jean living in Barbara?

6. The framework of Jean's story for Barbara? True story? Barbara and her work, skill, awards, her Emmy acceptance speech? The editing of the documentary, her friends and their comments? The bosses? Her continued taking of Vallium - having it with her, the store places around her apartment? Her visit to her doctor, talking with him? The clash about the drugs? Ten years of therapy? Her relationship with Derek? Love for him? Marriage or not? Sharing the home, going out? The decision to give up Vallium, the ten years of therapy, the effect on her? The effect of Jean's reaction to the film - and the accusation of unreality? Her being hurt? Her seizure on the beach, the withdrawal symptoms at home? Her look, feelings, head burning? Derek having to cope? Her becoming tricky, Derek and the phone call, her screaming for her friends to cone? Trying to cope? Sam and Karen and their reactions? Her visits to the institution, to the doctor, her lies about Derek poisoning her? in the institution? Her therapy, antagonism towards Julie? work with the other patients? The attack on Julie, the therapy? The significance of Jean's visit? Her being able to leave? Going to the new boss, his attitudes towards the film, taking a stand? Her frankness of expression? The news of Jean's death? The final ending of the film? The portrait of Barbara Cordon?

7. Derek, the background of the law, his helping the needy? Out of work, going to movies? Not telling Barbara? His love tor Barbara, sharing her life? The withdrawal, at the beach, at home? Giving his time and energies? His ability to cope, not cope? The drinking? Barbara and the triangles on the wall and her theories about relationships? Humouring her, feeding her, punching her? The phone call from Karen and his explanation of the primal scream? His continued support
- Barbara's leaving him?

8. The portrait of friends at the TV studio, helping Barbara with her work, their comments on the film?

9. The doctor and his not helping Barbara. the Valium. her breaking the therapy?

10. Julie and her work at the institution, relationship with the various patients, discussions with Barbara. coping with her hostility, Barbara's interference about other patients, Julie’s ability to handle the situation, relate, let Barbara go?

11. The sketch of the patients, life at the institution, help for inmates?

12. The return to the studio, the hard line of the officials? Barbara's taking a stand?

13. The theme of contemporary addictions. symptoms. elation from drugs, the controlling of the workaholic. the hype of the woman withdrawing from Vallium, the symptoms, the physical agony, inability to cope, the need for support, reality and unreality? Barbara’s memories, her family, the causes of her poor self-image? Facing self?