BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS
Australia, 1988, 94 minutes, Colour.
John Waters, Kym Gyngell, Penelope Stewart, Andrew Mc Farlane.
Directed by Pino Amenta.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams is a production by Boulevard, an Australian company who tried to make films acceptable in Australia and the United States during the '80s and '90s (Hunting, Heaven Tonight, What the Moon Saw, My Forgotten Man, Errol Flynn). Many of the films were directed by Pino Amenta.
This film is a star vehicle for John Waters, who won the AFI best actor award. Kym Gyngell won the best supporting actor award. The screenplay was written by Boulevard's director, Frank Howson.
Taking its title from the popular song, the film is a portrait of a successful Australian writer who has made the big time in the United States, has separated from his wife and child. He returns to Australia, ostensibly for a successful play, but in fact to die.
The film has the touch of soap opera, but has good performances and, especially, shows Melbourne as a lively city and gives an excellent impression of Melbourne.
1.Popularity of the film? AFI nominations?
2.The title, US and Australia? The American Dream - but waking in fright? The effect of the United States on a successful Australian writer? The nature of achievement and success? Australia - home, relationships, death?
3.The Los Angeles and New York sequences? The sepia flashbacks? Melbourne - the city and its environs?
4.The musical score, song, lyrics, themes?
5.The introduction to Tom: John Waters and his screen presence, success, Michael and the jobs, Los Angeles, Tom's lifestyle and work in Los Angeles? His leaving, the flight home? Care, the expected themes, career, relationships, death?
6.The film as a close-up on Tom: the silences, his wanderings, his wanting to rediscover his past life, remembering the city, the passing of time? The flashbacks and their effect? The taxi and the Australian tone, the hotel and his treatment? Geoff, the director and the adulation, the critique, the pretensions, the press conference? The end of his career? Credible or not? His impending death? The broken relationship with Helen, Helen and the dinner, the clash, his watching and stalking Jessie, the meeting with Helen, the past love, the break, taking Jessie home? The encounter with the actress, his awkwardness? Going to see her performance? The visit, the talk, the flat? Her support? The plan and his not going? Meeting his writer friend, the old bonds? Work, La Mama, his work in writing, telling the truth about his talent? The doctor, the pills? The audience knowing what was happening, sharing his feelings? The actress and the truth? Going back, reunited? A chance to die?
7.The portrait of Helen, the relationship with Tom in the past, pregnancy, wedding, La Mama? The separation, its reasons, the affair? Her return? The restaurant, the school? The possibility of reuniting? At home, her relationship at home? Her fears? Making the move, the phone call, the end? Jessie and her age, her expectations and longings, school? John - and her attitudes, for and against? Meeting Tom, relating to him? The ending?
8.The character of the writer, the past friendship, seedy style, his talent? Meeting, talking? Opportunities, fears? The job? The humiliation and the shock? The truth told? Working with Tom, achievement?
9.The portrait of the actress, her meeting with Tom, her performance, talk, the flat, listening, concern. Help?
10.The flamboyant producer and his entourage? Coming on strongly, press conference, performance?
11.The character of Michael, the American style, ballyhoo?
12.Themes of career, achievement, the drama, reputation and attention? The perspective of death?
13.A pleasing soap opera, humane, the human touches, themes and insight?
