FACE OF A STRANGER

US, 1991, 97 minutes, Colour.
Gena Rowlands, Tyne Daly, Seymour Cassell, Cynthia Nixon, Harris Yulin, Kevin Tighe.
Directed by Claudia Weill.

Face of a Stranger is a moving telemovie, an Emmy Award winning performance from Gena Rowlands and strong support from Tyne Daley. It is a film of the 90s, highlighting American affluence, yet highlighting the plight of people on the street. The interaction between the two is strong, emotional and informative for comfortable audiences. Gena Rowlands portrays a rich wife who is widowed. She has encountered a strong minded and strong tongued bag lady, Tyne Daley, and together they change one another. The actresses performance in the strong direction mean that while there is sentiment in the film, it is not sentimental. This gives it a greater strength. The direction is by Claudia Weill, director of the films, Girlfriends and It's My Turn.

1. Impact of the telemovie? Awards? Humanity, women's perspective, women's issues, social issues of the 90s?

2. The Seattle setting, the world of the rich, apartments and shops? The world of the poor, the streets and the shelters? The musical score?

3. The title and its reference to Pat and to Dolly?

4. Gena Rowlands portrait of Pat Foster: Her appearance, poise, wealth? Her relationship with Ralph the doorman? The apartment? Walking in the market, taking taxis? Her fur coat? The shop, her relationship with Nina? Her relationship with her husband, social life, dinners? A subservient wife? Her love for her husband? Tension with her daughter? The sudden impact of Richard's death? The immediate of having to cope, the body being taken away? The encounter with Dolly at the market, her performance? Seeing her across the street, fascinated by her? The game with Bo Peep? Buying the umbrella and giving it to her? Their talking, Dolly's bluntness? The preparation for the wedding, Kevin and his parents? Dolly and her appearance, coming up to the apartment, intervening, conversation? Nina humiliated, Kevin's parents? Pat's reaction and caring for Dolly? Buying her the boots, Dolly's rejection of the boots? Her sharing in her grief, sending the cake, Pat's angry reaction to the cake? The funeral, the arrangements? Talking with Dolly?

5. The bond between the two women, Pat deciding to go shopping with Dolly, Dolly dressing up, going to the shop, the attitude of the assistant, buying the red boots? Talks with Ralph and his antagonism towards Dolly? Out with Dolly, eating the sandwich and Dolly imitating her? The fire, Dolly going berserk? Taking her to the shelter? Finances, Pat and her having to sell the apartment? David and the schooldays memories? His coming to the funeral? Her meeting him? The outing, discussing his future, going home with him, the night with him? The next morning? Nina waiting and her attack on her mother? The new apartment? Her old friend, talking, the meals ? and people saying that she wasn't mixing anymore? Her wanting a job, going to the old school friend, her lack of qualifications? Desperation? Going to the marketing classes? Realizations about herself, the past, her submitting herself to her husband in marriage? Her new independence? Taking Dolly to the shelter, Dolly's anger? Dolly in hospital? The visits, the confrontations? Her helping Dolly, the rehabilitation ? the bond between the two, going to find out about Dolly's past, the fire?

6. Dolly, the bagwoman, strong-minded, her language? The mystery about her life and presence on the street? The scene at the market, her shrewd behaviour, threats to the market owner? Bo Peep and her singing the song? Getting the umbrella from Pat? Wanting the boots? Her reaction to the boots, gate crashing the house? Talk and advice to Kevin's parents? Nina's hostile reaction? Ralph putting her off? Her watching the house, watching Pat? Pat verbally attacking her? Watching the death, the body being taken away? Her tantrum for the cake and giving it to Pat? Responding to the invitation to go shopping, dressing up, the delight, the red boots, eating the sandwich? Not wanting to be in the shelter, escaping? out in the street, the two men taunting her, bashing her? In hospital, her reaction with the staff, wanting to see Pat?

7. Richard, the strong husband, military service. dominating? His death? Financial difficulties? Nina and her strong relationship with her father, resent towards her mother? The broken off marriage, Nina and her problems, blaming her mother? The key to the apartment, demands about her mother and the night out? The strong reconciliation? Her mother's straight talk to her?

8. David, memories of the past, friendship and support, the sexual encounter, his losing his job, having to move on?

9. Pat, searching out Dolly's past, down at the wharves, the information? Giving the photos back to Dolly? The truth, Dolly and the rehabilitation? The visit to the cemetery and its affect? Sharing perspectives? Dolly becoming stronger, the decision to leave without any address? The bus station and her departure?

10. Pat going back to her apartment, getting a job, taking responsibility for her life, being her own woman, relating better to Nina? The strength of the experience and the encounter with the stranger?