FIRE IN THE DARK
US, 1993, 91 minutes, Colour.
Olympia Dukakis, Lindsay Wagner, Edward Hermann, Jean Stapleton, Ray Wise, Joan Leslie.
Directed by David Jones.
Fire in the Dark is a topical American telemovie about ageing, death, fear. It also focuses on the responsibility of adult children for their ageing parents. Olympia Dukakis gives a persuasive performance as a widow who realises that she is deteriorating, opts out of life, but is finally challenged to do something creative with her old age. Her children are played by Lindsay Wagner and Edward Herman. Her friends include Jean Stapleton and veteran star of the '40s, Joan Leslie.
The film was directed by David Jones (84 Charing Cross Road). The film presents its characters and plot in the easy manner for the wide television audience, but nevertheless makes many significant points.
1.Popular telemovie? For the wide audience? Themes of ageing, responsibility, family?
2.The American atmosphere, the home, the town, activities? Musical score?
3.The title, the flashbacks of Emily and her husband? The finale and his letter from World War II and the theme of the fire in the dark? The reference to love of husband and wife?
4.The structure of the film: Emily leaving her house, the memories, the flashbacks within the memories? Her journey of collapse and depression, coming back into living and taking responsibility for her life? Accepting the fact of getting old?
5.Olympia Dukakis as Emily: the background of her past, her love for her husband? The experience of the war? Bringing up the children - and the flashbacks and her relationship with each of the children? Robert and her favouritism? Janet and the envy? Becoming a widow, getting older? The visits of the children and the grandchildren? Her friends, the outings? Chatter? Her fall, going downhill? The hospital sequences? The crutch? Living at home by herself, the house getting squalid and her inability to look after herself? Janet's visits and concern? Robert and his avoiding issues? Coming to Janet's home? The atmosphere in the house, clashing with Eric about the room, with the children? Her wheelchair? In the park - and Janet's confrontation? Her decision to sell the house? Come to terms with her life? The death of her friends? The finale with the letters in the attic and her ready to start a new phase of life?
6.The portrait of her friends, Henny and her extroversion? Going out, Henny daring Emily? Her sudden dropping dead? The funeral? Gladys, her decision to go to the home, her mental collapse? With Ruth and the embarrassment of the phone call where she couldn't remember? Ruth, efficient, library, looking after Gladys?
7.The importance of the portrait of the ageing women, their friendship, acting together, talking, recreating? The impact of illness and death?
8.Janet and Richard and their life, the university? Eric and his growing up? Careers? The care of Emily? Janet and her clash with Robert at the party, the issue of the father's watch? The continued clashes, her visiting him? The question of Robert getting attention and being liked? Janet's concern and envy? Visits to her mother, the hospital? Hosting the dinner for Richard's promotion? The funeral? Missing Eric's run? Her mother in the house, the growing tension, the transfer, the visit to the home for the elderly? Being hard on her mother? Confronting her? Confronting Robert?
9.Richard, love for Janet, his children? Supportive to his mother-in-law? The promotions dinner? The tension in the house?
10.Eric, age, youth, the watch? Relating with his parents, with his grandmother? The run and his mother missing? wanting to move out - and the upset about the room?
11.Robert, his background, relationships? Avoiding responsibility? The arguments with Janet? Petulant? His mother doing his washing etc? His having to stand on his own feet?
12.The speeches about age, fearing getting old, disabled, alone, illnesses? Death? Having to cope?
13.The end, Emily's support from her children, a new phase of her life? Finding her husband's letters - and the symbolism of the film?
