FAMILY LIFE
UK, 1971, 107 minutes, Colour.
Sandy Ratcliff, Bill Dean, Grace Cave.
Directed by Ken Loach.
Family Life is a harrowing experience to sit through and yet it probably should be seen by most people and perhaps more than once. Ken Loach has made Cathy Come Home; Poor Cow and Kes and become noted for his realism in presenting current social themes and the documentary-like way in which situations and dialogue are presented. In fact, the dialogue in this film is so real that it must be based on tapes of actual conversations.
The film poses questions about modern society, environment and sanity as well as methods for curing and coping with mental disturbance. The film is firmly on the side of counselling and awareness of environmental factors rather than drug and shock treatment. The film also takes the side of the younger generation seeing them as victims of their parents. While parents and authorities are attacked it is not entirely mercilessly.
Sandy Ratcliff is convincing as Janice, but Bill Dean and, especially. Grace Cave (who is said to believe in the role she played) as Janice's father and mother, are superb. Some sequences, like the Sunday dinner, are most affecting. In fact, the whole film is a good sign of contradiction to test our values on modern society and family life.
1. The opening of this film shows rows of neat well-kept houses, similar in appearance and design. What purpose does this achieve? This sequence is repeated several times throughout the film. Can you see any relationship between the shots of 'suburbia' and the emotional situations against which they are juxtaposed?
2. Why does the director concentrate our attention on the faceless crowds commuting and queuing? Does this indicate any specific attitude of the director towards the situation of "Family Life"? How do the scenes in the factory where Janice is employed give an additional emphasis to the director's point of view?
3. What changes in tone and attitude occur in her parents during the scene which occurs after she is brought home by the police? How does their attitude reinforce or weaken their claim to simply "want to help"? "Talk to us, tell us something...." Do the mother and father make it possible for Janice to communicate with them? What does Janice's inability to communicate, and her constant changing of the subject show? Is it what her father seems to think?
4. "She was a model childl" Or was she? What is the mother's concept of a model child?
5. How would you describe the mother's attitude to the doctor? What does the mother's concern for respect and a continuation of her own code of living show in regard to her capacity for listening to the doctor?
6. How does the scene in which Janice and her mother discuss the pregnancy and the possible abortion reflect the values of each? Is there an ambivalence in the values that the mother holds?
7. "Anyone would think that you were inside my head." "You're my daughter, I know what you want." How much understanding is re-elected in this discussion? What does the sketching of the baby show about Janice?
8. In the discussion between the father and the psychiatrist what sort of image of the mother is portrayed? "She's not like that, she's had a good upbringing." The father follows this statement with the observation that his wife has always taught the girls "right from wrong". How adequate would this teaching be?
9. Janice and Tim discuss her leaving home. Janice states that it is much easier to do what her mother wants. Why then is Janice, the 'model child' incapable of making a decision herself?
10. What effects have the contradictory statements and attitudes of the mother on Janice?
11. The mother is disturbed that their respectable neighbourhood is roused by Tim's bike. How does this reflect her total attitude to Janice's behaviour?
12. "You are a wicked girl, you've upset our whole household". who is upset and why? How does the breakfast scene reflect the destruction of Janice's capacity to communicate?
13. What could be the reason for the mother's disappointment in the appearance of Dr. Donaldson's ward? How does the mother's questioning about sedation indicate her attitude to and expectations of her daughter? "How do you teach them right from wrong?" "Do as you're told and come back nice and well". What is the concept of right and wrong that these people have?
14. 'What is your idea of sin, Janice?" "In my case sin is not hurting other people". what sort of training does this reflect? 'What about when other people hurt you?" "They don't, not in the way I've hurt my parents". What has happened to Janice as a person?
15. What does the exchange between the young patients tell you about their problems? Would these same problems be relevant to the situations of the teenagers that you meet today? How can these problems be aggravated by adults?
16. "There must be more control". "Do you feel that control is the answer?" What do you think?
17. "It's very hard to take when you've tried to do the best for your child". What is your reaction to this statement?
18. Janice's parents talk to the doctor about their hopes that things will get back "on an even keel" What would be your hopes about the result of this stay in hospital? Would life for Janice and her parents be the same as it was previously? What was Dr. Donaldson's reaction to the hopes of the parents? Why?
19. A new problem is exposed in this discussion, that of the parents. How do they show their incapacity to face Janice's need for growing independence?
20. How does the mother's reaction to the "diabolical" word ? abortion ? further confuse Janice?
21. Dr. Donaldson shows Janice that she cannot stand her parents' disapproval. He offers her a way to stand up to them and not to hate them. Do you think that the sort of help that he is offering is needed by young people today?
22. What changes do you see occurring under the care of Dr. Carswell? what are his hopes for Janice? Are these worthwhile hopes?
23. What does Janice's relationship with Tim do for her as a person?
24. Tim comments on "suburbia":..."early to bed, early to rise, passive and punctual. That's normal, but is it sane? Is it?
25. What effect is achieved through the scene of the blue paint in the garden?
26. At the Sunday meal there are various exchanges, between the grandparents and their grandchildren, e.g. "You'll eat it all up, you're on my side". What does this expose in them? What is their reaction to their older daughter, her husband and their children? How do they show their reactions? How do the shots of the children at table show the children's responses to the atmosphere? Barbara was a rebel. What does this mean in Barbara's situation? "Im a responsible man", the father asserts. What do you think?
27. Janice's reaction to the second interview with Dr. Carswell compared with her response to Dr. Donaldson? The principal concerns of the parents when they rebuke Janice for her violent behaviour in the hospital?
28. What is your reaction to the removal of Janice from the hospital by Tim? "People know what you are there in hospital .... At least there I don't feel that I'm real. I don't feel anything." What has hospital treatment done for Janice? How has Janice failed her parents? How have her parents failed Janice? Has the hospital failed Janice and her parents? The final scene shows Dr. Carswell discussing Janice with his students. He describes her as having had a "reasonably comfortable home and a happy child hood". In fact he continues to state that "There is no discernible connection between her symptoms and her environment."
(Questions prepared by Maureen Minahan C.S.B.)
