FOXFIRE
US, 1987, 118 minutes, Colour.
Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, John Denver.
Directed by Jud Taylor.
Foxfire is based on a play by Hume Cronyn and Susan Cooper. It was adapted for television by Susan Cooper. It is a star vehicle for Hume Cronyn and his wife Jessica Tandy. (Tandy performs excellently as the old woman - an award-winning performance, a prelude to her Oscar for Driving Miss Daisy.) John Denver appears as Cronyn's and Tandy's son.
The film is set in North Carolina, in the beautiful Blue Ridge country - but at a time when people have to move out from the country, sell up their properties, where developers are interested in building holiday homes for the wealthy. The theme of change, growing old, moving away from one's roots are all explored.
Jessica Tandy is excellent as Aunt Annie, the old woman who survives in the hills, is pressurised by her musician son to move away to Florida with him, but who is in constant contact with the image of her dead husband.
The film is strong, not sentimental. It offers insight into old age, the importance of memories, the healing of memories - and the need for change.
1.Interesting and entertaining film? Performances? Themes? Universal impact about age and change?
2.The North Carolina mountain settings, the beauty of the house and the hills? The scenes in the town, the country and western concert? The musical score, the country and western songs? The contribution of John Denver?
3.The title, old wood and the fungus clinging to the wood? With reference to Annie, with reference to Hector?
4.The structure of the film: Hector and his voice-over from the grave, his explanations of the mountain, the property, his father and grandfather working it? His explanations of Annie, the family? His appearing, observing the action? His interacting with his wife? His taking a stand, Annie's reaction? Her finally having to lay him to rest? Her not being able to see him any more? His watching as she leaves the mountain?
5.Jessica Tandy as Annie, the explanation of her life, her character? Her love for Hector, at the grave, talking with him? Concern about their children - that they had gone away, been driven away and barely communicated with their parents? Dillard and his marriage, his children, his music, performances? His pressure for her to leave the mountain and come to live with him? Her friendship with people round about? Holly and her visits, supporting her? Prince Carpenter and his visit, his smooth talk, wanting to buy the property? Her going into town, buying things, Holly telling her not to go back with Prince? The caution about selling? Her talking things over with Hector? Dillard's visit, her delight in seeing him, affection, the oranges? Her talking things over with him, going to the concert, enjoying his performance, coming home with a headache? His coming back - her talking with him, the memories, her clashes with Hector, his harsh treatment of Dillard and whipping him, her standing up to him? Her memories of his illness and dying, cantankerous when coming home from hospital, Holly coming for the interview and his grumpy answers? His death? The help from Holly, her coming to terms with the situation, Dillard and his divorce and the needs of the children? Her decision to go? Her clashing with Hector - not seeing him any more? Walking down the mountain with Dillard to a new future?
6.Hector, the man of the land, strict, quoting the Bible, upbraiding his wife for not being as religious as he? The hard work at the farm, driving his children away? Severity towards Dillard, Dillard getting the money by playing, his anger with Dillard, the confrontation, whipping him? His hard work, his illness, grumpy towards Holly, his death? More genial after he died than before - company for his wife, supporting her? Not wanting her to leave, the four hours for the concert? Admitting that she could not see and hear him any more? For him to rest in peace?
7.John Denver as Dillard, his performances, his wife going off, love for his children? His performance - and its phoney country and western attitudes, Holly's criticisms? Holly remembering his former singing - and his singing the song? The encounter with Prince Carpenter and leading him on? His love for his mother, visiting her, talking things over, working with her? Honouring her in his performance? The return, wanting to talk things over? His memories of the past, the clashes with his father and hating him? Love and hate? His persuading his mother to leave, their going down the mountain together?
8.Holly, the girl from the mountains, going away to train to teach, returning home, feeling at home in the mountains? Her reaction against Prince Carpenter, her own property gone? The importance of roots, property and heritage? Her love for Aunt Annie? Love for Dillard?
9.Prince Carpenter, the salesman, the visit, his smoothness, techniques of persuasion? Taking Annie into town? Bringing her the gift of the knives? His reaction to taking out the pig's eyes? Adaptable, talking things over with Dillard? Pleased to get the sale, seeing Aunt Annie off the property?
10.The old traditions of the Carolinas, the old farms and properties, pioneers clearing the land, handing on their property to the next generation? The younger generation and their moving away, not at home in the country, moving to the cities, on the move?
11.A likeable film? Portrait of real people? Universal conflicts and resolution?
