MONA LISA

UK, 1986, 104 minutes, Colour.
Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Michael Caine, Robbie Coltrane, Sammi Davis.
Directed by Neil Jordan.

Mona Lisa is an arresting British crime story. It was directed and co-written by Irishman, Neil Jordan (Angel, Company of Wolves - and the unsuccessful American comedies High Spirits, We're no Angels - and then back to Ireland for The Miracle).

The co-author David Leland was the author of Wish You Were Here, Personal Services, Checking Out. The film takes its title, obviously, from Leonardo da Vinci, but also from the song, the Oscar winning song, sung by Nat King Cole (who also sings When I fall in Love and The Very Thought of You). For the central character, George, a small time criminal, prostitute Simone, whom he has to chauffeur to her clients, becomes Mona Lisa. However, his infatuation with the Mona Lisa is cruelly shattered at the end.

The film is very much Bob Hoskins film and he won the best actor award at Cannes as well as receiving an Oscar nomination. By the mid 80s, Hoskins had established himself in Britain and in the United States (and in Australia) as a very skilful comic actor whose-credits range from The Long Good Friday to the Lonely Passion of Judith Hearn to Sweet Liberty, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Hook. His also teamed with Michael Caine (with whom he appeared in Sweet Liberty and The Honorary Consul). Included in the cast are Cathy Tyson (Business as Usual, Serpent and the Rainbow) as Simone and Sammi Davis as prostitute, May. There is a scene stealing performance also by Robbie Coltrane who was to emerge as a popular comic actor in the late 80s, including Nun's On The Run. The film shows us London of the 80s, the world of small time criminals as well as crueller gangsters, the world of prostitution and vice.

1. Impact of the film? Interest? Entertainment? A British crime thriller? The underworld? The human face of the London underworld?

2. The vivid London settings, the streets of South London, King's Cross and its prostitution, hotels, the streets, clubs? The contrast with Brighton, the holiday resort, the vice area?

3. The musical score, Nat King Cole and the title of the film, his other songs, the operatic excerpts from Madame Butterfly? The background score and the mood?.

4. The title, Da Vinci's painting, the enigmatic woman, the woman of beauty, seductive and deceptive? The song and the lyrics - and the application to Simone?

5. Bob Hoskins' screen presence and style? George and his emerging from jail, going back home, his wife and her rejecting him, his love for his daughter? His background story, in the employ of Mortwell? The experience in prison? Going to see his friend Thomas, their shared interests, detective stories, murders? The focus on storytelling, the focus on Thomas and storytelling - and the end of the film? The opening, jail, getting out, focusing on the past, trying to adapt to the present, the sudden impact of his wife and daughter, anger, fights in the street? The black population? Getting the job, at Thomas's place, the rabbit? Talking?

6. His attempts to find Mortwell? Getting the job driving Simone? The antagonism between the two? His disapproval of her and her work? Her reaction to him? His clothes, her giving him the money, the garish clothes that he bought? Her taking him out and transforming his appearance? The world of clients, driving Simone, waiting for her? The hotels, drinks? Arguments? His making a fool of himself, embarrassing himself? The bond with Simone? The change of style? Meeting Mortwell and the clash? His beginning to share Simone's life, devotion to her? The contrast with Thomas - the tart, the stories? The search for Kathy? The sleazy atmospheres? The encounter with May? The ice-cream? The car? Kathy and the church? The rescue bid? Kathy, the drugs, at Simone's? Things seeming to go well - the photos, the video? The violence? The significance of Anderson, Mr Smith? The pursuit? Mortwell and prying? The involvement with Rashie and Mortwell's curiosity? The shift to Brighton, George finding out the truth about Simone and Kathy, his disillusionment? The chase, the violent deaths? Telling his story? The portrait of the small time criminal, good hearted, ignorant, naive? Seven years in the change in technology, in the style of criminals? His values? His conservative understanding of love and marriage?

7. Simone, the Mona Lisa, her appearance, her work. the hotels and her beat, the clients, clothes and style, the clashes with George, his disapproval, buying him new clothes? The jobs and the secrecy? The episode on the bridge, her story? The search for Kathy, the encounter with May? Her rescuing Kathy, the drugs? Brighton, clients, the video and Anderson's presence? The break-in? The truth about her relationship with Kathy and her dependence on him? The pressure - and her shooting Anderson and Mortwell? The possibility of her shooting George? Her future?

8. The prostitutes, the girls in the street, May, the fifteen year olds, their fears? The pimps and their control? The drugs? Kathy and the clients, the ugly world? The ice-cream sequence? The games? The pimps and their violence?

Mortwell, the gangster, suave and debonair manner, leaving George in the lurch? Business deals? Meeting with George, past friendship, the present and the tougher circumstances? Pimps, clients, his wanting to know about Rashied? The violent doublecross and his death?

10. Anderson, pimp, control of the women, Lester Smith, the videos, the ugly criminal?

11. The contrast with the world of Thomas, his inventions, spaghetti, the virgins, the humour, his story telling?

12. The audience brought into an ugly world? Immersed in the ugly world of vice? Understanding the people - understanding and or compassion? The focus on George given a human face to the world of crime? The exploration of contemporary values, right and wrong?