IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2
US, 2000, 96 minutes, Colour.
1961: Vanessa Redgrave, Marian Seldes, Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth Perkins.
1972: Michelle Williams, Chloe Sevigny, Natasha Lyonne, Nia Long.
2000: Sharon Stone, Ellen De Generes, Regina King.
Directed by Jane Anderson, Martha Coolidge, Anne Heche.
If These Walls Could Talk 2 focuses on three stories about American lesbians. The first film focused on the issue of abortion. The device was to show three stories taking place in the same house in different periods, illustrating the different attitudes of American society to the issue.
1961 begins with two elderly lesbians at a cinema watching the climactic sequence of William Wyler's The Children's Hour, with Shirley MacLaine? realising her lesbian orientation and despairing while trying to be reassured by Audrey Hepburn. The film focuses on the two women, the tenderness of their relationship, the accidental death of one of them and the vigil at the hospital by the other. The focus of the film then becomes the discussion about the house and its contents as in the will of the dead woman, with no legal rights for her long-time companion. While this story seems slight on paper, it is presented quite profoundly because of the presence and performance of Vanessa Redgrave as the survivor of the couple. She brings an extraordinary dignity to the role which demands audiences reflecting on the reality of the relationship, the consequences, the legal ramifications. Marian Seldes plays the dead woman, Paul Giamatti and Elizabeth Perkins play the not entirely unsympathetic nephew and his wife with their daughter, but who are also focusing on what they can take from the house and its sale.
The 1972 story seems very slight in comparison. It is directed by Martha Coolidge (Rambling Rose, Lost in Yonkers, Out to Sea). It is set on a college campus in more frank times (surprisingly only eleven years after the first story, but seeming light years away). The film focuses on a group living in a house, one of hem being attracted to a rather mannish young woman, Michelle Williams and Chloe Sevigny. The other members of the group taunt her and there is a crisis in her decision about relationships, her identity, not being ashamed to be judged in public.
The 2000 story seems even slighter, even though it is about a serious subject. It was written and directed by Anne Heche (at the time she was in relationship with co-star and producer Ellen De Generes - but the pairing broke up soon after). The film is about a lesbian couple deciding to have artificial insemination to have a child. It focuses on their life at home, the quality of their relationship, the information about sperm banks, the selection of the sperm that they will use, finding the right time for impregnation.
The film was made for Home Box Office television and raises issues of sexual orientation and attitudes of American society as they have changed over the latter part of the 20th century.
1. 1961: The quality of the story, the performances of the central actresses, especially Vanessa Redgrave? Audience attention, reflection attitudes, judgments? Watching The Children's Hour, the power of the sequence on screen, the two women being moved? The young people laughing at the film? Their going home, the easiness of their life together, such a long period, teaching in the same school, retired? Abby and her care for the birds, her delight, falling from the ladder, hospital, death? Edith and her sadness, at the hospital, the woman talking about her husband's heart attack, presumptions that she would be married, the presumptions about next of kin, the nurses at the desk, her not being informed about Abby's death? Given the phone number about retrieving the body? Her grief, the aftermath of the funeral? At home, her home? The nephew and niece and their discussions, their daughter and her taking the binoculars, the bird, Edith telling her not to touch things, the little girl seeing Edith crying in the room, the bond between the two, Edith shaking her hand as she left? The niece and the nephew and their measuring things, putting things in bags? The nephew and his looking at Abby's things, the photo, Edith reminiscing about the fishing expedition? Decisions about the house, the lack of realisation of the relationship between the two, the discussions about money, taxes, rent? The photo with the two women dressed as men and the little girl's puzzle? The nephew and his gradual realisation and trying to do justice for Edith? The emotional impact of the story? The issues of sexual orientation, companionship, commitment? Legal issues?
2. 1972: The portrait of the four women in the sorority, their stances about their sexual orientation, their being ousted from the feminist group because of issues of sexual orientation and the public? Life on the campus, Franca, more permissive? Language, behaviour, sexual attitudes? Their friendship amongst themselves? The gay bar, meeting Amy? Linda and her meeting Amy, the initial discussions, her reaction to Amy's dress and appearance, the comments of the others in the group, their going home? Linda and her staying, dancing, going home on the bike, returning the shirt? Amy turning up, the mockery of the other three? Linda later going to see her, apologising, staying together, the sexual relationship? The aftermath and the discussions, not being ashamed, accepting Amy for who she was rather than what she wore? Amy's explanation of herself, her family, her identity?
3. 2000: The issue of artificial insemination, of surrogate parenthood, of lesbian couples having children? Fran and her companion, their life together, modern, style of the year 2000? In comparison with 1972, with 1961? Searching the internet for sperm banks? The interview with the director, discussions about investigations of donors, their background? The two making choices and being anxious? The ovulation time, the phone calls, getting the sperm? Going to the hospital, the insemination? The companion inseminating Fran? Their discussions about themselves, people's attitudes, the law, bringing up children, the comparison with straight couples? Their belief that they could educate their child well?
4. A film for American television audiences, raising orientation issues, the transformation of these issues and public opinion from the 1960s to the beginning of the 21st century?
