THE BUTCHER'S WIFE

US, 1991, 105 minutes, Colour.
Demi Moore, Jeff Daniels, George Dzundza, Mary Steenburgen, Frances McDormand?, Miriam Margoyles.
Directed by Terry Hughes.

The Butcher's Wife is a star vehicle for Demi Moore. She is supported by Jeff Daniels and George Dzundza (the Charles Durning of the next generation). There is a strong supporting cast including Margaret Colin, Frances McDormand?, Mary Steenburgen.

The film is a fey story about a clairvoyant young woman from Carolina who is attracted to a New York butcher, marries him and goes back to New York, transforming people's lives - in the most gentle way. However, she realises that she has married the wrong husband. Her husband falls in love with one of her friends and complications ensue.

Demi Moore is very attractive as the butcher's wife. The supporting cast gives great forcefulness to a very slight and light story.

1.An attractive and fey film? Portrait of people? Transformation? A positive and loving perspective?

2.The opening in Carolina, the lighthouse and the sea? The transition to New York, the atmosphere of the neighbourhood, streets, apartments and shops? The musical score?

3.The title, the tone and its focus?

4.The introduction to characters and themes: the lighthouse, the once upon a time kind of story? The island? Marina and her fey style? Her grandmother? Her dreams? The dream about her husband, Leo arriving in the boat, the meeting? The quick marriage? The plausibility of the plot - and credibility?

5.Marina arriving in New York? The audience seeing the neighbourhood through her eyes? The two old ladies sitting on the sidewalk watching and commenting? Their friendship? The people in the neighbourhood? Alex watching? Eugene and his awkwardness, his artwork, getting a job? The relationship between Robin and Alex? Leo and his reaction to Marina's knowledge, information? About the coming of the meat? The woman arriving as a customer and Marina knowing what she wanted and serving her? The response of people to Marina's knowledge? Leo in love with Marina, the room, the dancing? And yet his fears, going to the bar? His friends at the bar? Marina and her settling in, her helping Eugene? Talking with Robin and telling her future? Going to buy the shoes, encountering Grace - and paying the small amount of money? The neighbours and the potion? The chicken? Going to see Alex? The encounter with Alex, his hostility? The psychologist? Going out with him, the skating - and seeing Alex's past?

6.Leo as a character, the large middle-aged man, the butcher? His customers? Enjoying the bar and the singing, friends? Overwhelmed by Marina? The man of her dreams? Marrying? His pride in the butcher shop? Being persuaded to give Eugene a job? The artwork on his window? His friendship with Alex, going to get his advice? At work, his love for Bessie Smith's songs, the bar? Seeing Stella singing? The infatuation? Going home with her, talking to her about his wife? His being overwhelmed by Stella? The discussions with Alex, being hurt by Marina? Trying to work things out with Stella, listening to her songs? Alex and Marina and the final resolution? The happy ending for him?

7.Robin, her relationship with Alex, the TV star? In the butcher shop, chatting with Marina, becoming friends? Her relationship with Alex and the proposal? The life with him? His response to her? Friendship with Grace?

8.Eugene, under Alex's care, the discussions? Alex and his seeing Marina as interfering? Eugene and his work, being hurt by Marina's false accusation? Her embarrassment? Forgiveness? The customer and admiring his window designs, his getting a job?

9.Stella, her dowdiness, singing in the church choir, conducting, Marina's advice? Her going to sing, the Bessie Smith songs? Seeing Leo? Her gratitude towards Marina? Leo going to the choir? Talking with Leo, sympathetic about his wife? Her going to Alex for her therapy? Crying, and the irony of Alex's exasperation with Marina?

10.Alex and his work, his clients? The client who gave him advice? The meetings with Marina, going skating, his exasperation? Her intervention in the lives of so many people he knew? His relationship with Robin, tension? Advice to Stella? Marina coming at night, the kiss? And his having to talk over his own case with his client?

11.Marina, her dreams, kissing Alex? The true man of her dreams? Not knowing about Stella? The mistake with Eugene and asking forgiveness? Her becoming unsettled?

12.Robin and Grace, their finding each other, the affair? Stella's success?

13.The spoof on psychiatrists and their work? Intuitions? Clients? Alex himself being changed?

14.The resolution, the happy relationships, Alex's visit to the lighthouse and Granny? The row and reconciliation? The partners dancing?

15.Romantic comedy? A '90s feelgood film?