A MAN IN LOVE

France, 1987, 125 minutes, Colour.
Peter Coyote, Greta Scacchi, Jamie Lee Curtis, Claudia Cardinale, Peter Riegert, John Berry, Vincent Lindon.
Directed by Diane Kurys.

A Man In Love is a romantic drama written and directed by Diane Kurys, director of Peppermint Soda and Entre Nous.

It was filmed in English and has an international cast led by Peter Coyote (E.T., Outrageous Fortune) and Greta Scacchi (Heat and Dust, White Mischief). Jamie Lee Curtis has a guest role as the hero's wife and Claudia Cardinale appears as the heroine's mother.

The film is attractively made in Panavision, with a musical score by Georges Delerue. It has locations in Rome, Paris and Tuscany. Its setting is the making of a film about the communist poet, Cesare Pavese, who committed suicide at the age of 42, in the early '50s. Suggestions are made of a parallel and contrast between Pavese and the hero who plays him on screen. The film is also set in Cinecitta and takes us behind the scenes of film-making - both the work itself as well as the emotions of those involved.

Audiences may or may not be attracted by Peter Coyote as the self-preoccupied and self-centred hero. Greta Scacchi is lively and attractive as the heroine. However, many might find their relationship rather tiresome. However, this is romance, love, betrayal in the style of the'80s.

1. Romantic melodrama? Contemporary? The European and American background? Film-making?

2. Diane Kurys and her personal work, feminine sensibility?

3. The use of Roman locations, the studios, the villas, the hotels? Paris, Tuscany? the romantic score?

4. The background of making a film about Pavese: Steve Elliott telling his story at the press conference, reading from his diary? Poet, communist background? Post-war Italy? His type, interpretation? His death?

5. The world of film-making, contracts and agents? Press conferences and hype? Photographers? Sets, lighting? Tantrums by actors and directors? Energy? Reality and illusion? Budgets and problems? Atmosphere?

6. The introduction to Steve as hero or anti-hero? American, an Italian view of an American? His arrival, the press, the conference, his information and feeling about Pavese? Michael as his assistant, slaving for him? His wife's phone calls and tantrums? Introduction to the director, clashes? His style? The crew? The images of Pavesi and his acting skills? His choosing Gabriella from the photos? Her arrival and her father's wanting an interview? His refusal, pursuing Gabriella after the outburst on the bike, their working together? Seeing her in the cafeteria, the attraction? The pursuit, the photo-calls, the work together? His attempts to seduce her - and failing? the sharing the evening with her? Her return to Paris, Susan's arrival? His agent paving the way, Michael smoothing the way? The fight with Susan? going for the weekend to Paris, to the theatre, finding Gabriella the restaurant, the reaction of the group? His return? The phone calls, the infatuation? Together, sharing, the sensuality of their experience, love? His clash with Michael add abuse of him? His moods concerning the film? Relying on Gabriella to enable him to finish? His perfectionism with his acting? Susan and her coming again, his confronting her?

7. Not being able to leave her? The death of Gabriella's mother, his going? The return? The effect of the affair on him, on his marriage? His future?

8. Gabriella and Paris, her acting, boyfriend? At home with her father, his exuberance and writing, her mother and her strength, her background? Going to Rome with her father, his uproar over the interview? The bond, with her mother, concern about her illness, the tests? The return, talking with her, sharing, knowing that she was dying, helping her to die? The effect of her death? The film, the opportunity, sharing with Steven, attracted to him? The scenes together and his moods? His pursuit of her and her not giving in? The return to Paris, her work in the theatre? Leaving Bruno? Steven's phone calls, in Rome, the sharing, the games, sensuality, hurt, the changes? His not letting her know about the long schedule? The separation, her going to her mot her for the death? The break? Her decision to write - and the finale?

9. Michael and his role, his background, efficiency, handling all situations, covering, procuring? Gabriella asking him about his life and ambitions?

10. Steven and his clashes - even despising him?

11. Susan and her tantrums, the phone call, children, her son and the au pair, her arrival, the effect of her presence, the party, her hold over Steven, the tennis game, angers, leaving, the phone calls, the return, her grief, prevailing over Steven?

12. The director, his background with the stage, the making of the film, the international production, tantrums, social connections, coping at work?

13. Pavesi and his writing, communist background, poetry, the diary, women and his impotence, the picnic, the hotel, sitting at the desk, writing his final words, the tablets and his death?

14. Gabriella's father and his exuberance, having left his mother, the return? Her mother and her work at the gallery? Her story? Peace between the two? The final long meal with the doctor, the happiness? The despair of the mother, her advice to her daughter about her relationships? Her death?

15. The agents, the press, pursuing the couple, photographs?

16. Bruno and his relationship, work in the theatre, his visit to Gabriella and his rejection?

17. Enjoyable romantic drama? Where did audience sympathies lie? Understanding of passion and relationships? Hurt and betrayal?