FALLING IN LOVE

US, 1984, 100 minutes, Colour.
Robert de Niro, Meryl Streep, Harvey Keitel, Jane Kaczmarek, George martin, David Clennon, Dianne Wiest.
Directed by Ulu Grosbard.

Falling In Love is a pleasing romance that does not make the impact that it might have. Directed by stage director Ulu Grosbard (The Subject Was Roses, True Confessions), the film is a vehicle for the considerable talents of Robert de Niro and Meryl Streep. They are both very good in their roles, however, they are not as persuasively or forcefully written as might have been. The film is a kind of contemporary Brief Encounter or Affair to Remember. Each is married, they meet accidentally, they think about one another and fall in love. This provides a crisis for each marriage - it is interesting that, contrary to the styles of the '70s and '80s, the affair is not consummated and the couple agree to part. However, ultimately the marriages break and the couple are reunited. The authentic New York locations add to the authenticity of the general situation. The stars act with ease and there is a good supporting cast. However, the film is not memorable.

1. The appeal of the love story, the romance, the affair? An authentic story? Emotional response?

2. The film as a star vehicle for Robert de Niro and Meryl Streep? Their respective presences, styles? How well do they work together? Persuasively? As stars, as characters?

3. The New York world, commuters, the suburbs, suburban lifestyle, trains, work in the city, building, design? The environment of the city? A city love story?

4. The title and expectations, the traditional love story, the brief encounter, the affair to remember, the love affair? The emotional response, commitment? Stress, difficulties? The effect of the romance on each of the characters? On their spouses?

5. The tradition of cinema love stories: Brief Encounter and the trains, Love Affair and its remake, An Affair to Remember?

6. Robert de Niro’s portrait of Frank: ordinary type, relationship with wife and children, his concern about his friend Ed? Christmas gifts, shopping, the Christmas presents and the opening of them, the mistake about the book? The chance encounter with Molly? The stability of Frank's marriage, the contrast with Ed and his marriage break-up, affairs? The second encounter with Molly and its effect? Seeing Frank at work? Construction worker, supervision? His moods? The effect of re-meeting Molly? The encounters on the train? The possibility of going to Houston? Meeting her on the train, the proposition, the lyrical outings, phone calls? The delight in each other's company, sharing? Their going to Ed's apartment but not consummating the affair? Frank's plea to Molly to go with him? His decision to go? The challenge by his wife, the clash, her being hurt and slapping him? Their going to Houston? His wife and children going on ahead? The night that he was leaving, closing up the house? The phone call to Molly, talking to her husband? His return to New York, the success of Houston, the break-up of his marriage, chatting with Ed, Ed's remarrying? Going back to the bookstore, the chance meeting with Molly? The train ride? Their making a life together?

7. Meryl Streep's presence and style as Molly? In herself, in New York for Christmas, chatting with her friend, shopping, visiting her father, the memories of his harshness, her absent mother? Her devotion to her father? Christmas and the exchange of gifts with her husband? The quality of her marriage? His self-preoccupation? At home, work, her skill in design? The visits to her father and the need for the operation? Her thinking of Frank, not changing the book, meeting him again? Her response to him, the train, the outings, enjoyment of his company, falling in love? The possibility of the consummation of the affair ? her hesitation, refusal, leaving? The continued contacts, her waiting at the train and his finally coming? In love with him but separating? Her father's death while she was with Frank, the funeral and her breaking down, the support of her husband? Still being preoccupied, the phone call, the frantic drive in the rain and the train holding her up? Separation? Talking with her friend the following Christmas? The chance encounter? Remeeting him ? a possible future?

8. A sketch of the spouses: authentic, in themselves, our perception of them through Frank and Molly? Frank's wife and her work around the home, devotion to the children? Molly's husband and his work? Their both being hurt?

9. Ed and his friendship, marriage break-up, settling down? Molly's girlfriend and her affairs?

10. The portrait of Molly's father, throwing Molly's character into greater relief? An old man, the doctor, the jokes about health, his death?

11. The detail of city life, work, life in the '80s?

12. Psychological and emotional truth? Decision-making? Audience sympathies? Love, commitment? The future of the couple?