FIREFIGHTER
US, 1986, 100 minutes, Colour.
Nancy Mc Keown, Vince Irrizary, Barry Corbin, Guy Boyd, Whip Hubley, Ed Lauter.
Directed by Robert Lewis.
Firefighter is an entertaining American telemovie, with a point. It tells the story of Cindy Fralick, the Los Angeles Fire Department's first woman firefighter. Nancy Mc Keown gives a vigorous performance as Cindy.
The film highlights Cindy as a person, her marriage and its failure, her determination to do something different, the training, the hostility of the male members of the fire department, her girlfriend urging her to exercise and train, her vindication of people's hope in her. It also shows the life of the firefighter, the dangers, the ordinariness. Cindy has to overcome a whole lot of male prejudice - which she eventually does.
There is a genial spirit about the film. It is, on a popular level, a good example of the entertaining story which makes a point about the relationships between men and women and women's place in society and in the workforce.
1.Entertaining telemovie? Portrait of a woman? Points being made about men and women and the workforce?
2.Los Angeles settings, the '80s? Education, homes, the firefighting department, training? The fires and rescues, special effects and stunts? Musical score?
3.The title, the shift from fireman to firefighter? Cindy and the flashback framework of the film - her lecture to the schoolchildren, her memories, her final words about her achievement and hopes?
4.Nancy McKeown's screen presence as Cindy Fralick? Giving the talk, the flashbacks? Her studies, her parking meter job at the university? Her relationship with her husband, love, his support - and suddenly walking out on her? The devastating effect? Her relationship with her parents - their misgivings about her job? Her girlfriend and continued support? the decision to do something worthwhile with risk? The application, the interviews, the waiting, the training? The exercises and tests? Her achievement? Comparisons with the men? The men making bets? The authorities and their interest? Her graduation, her pride, support of her parents and friends? The interest of the other firemen, Michael and the dates? His chauvinistic attitudes and her reaction? Cindy alone, getting over the broken marriage? Her girlfriend's preoccupation about sex? The dates with Michael? Preoccupied with her work, doing the first aid training, passing? Going on emergency relief? The jokes in the fire department stations, the rooms, the meals, cooking, watching television and fights? Difficulties with regulations designed for men - haircuts etc? Her achievement, on the job, rescues etc? The man with the heart attack and her quick thinking? The final meal - and being called out? Portrait of an average American woman? Being presented as an example for the audiences?
5.Cindy's girlfriend, support, talk, relationships?
6.Michael, his scepticism, attraction towards Cindy, the Greek background, the restaurant, the clashes, support, love?
7.The authorities, their backing Cindy, the difficulties, speeches, the graduation, the head of the station, sending her out for relief?
8.Her husband, his support, the sudden announcement of the divorce? Her parents, their wariness, their support of her?
9.The firefighters, the masculine domain, the rigorous training, the demands? Cindy breaking through these?
10.A popular film to break through chauvinist attitudes and to highlight the role of women in the workplace?
