LOVEY: A CIRCLE OF CHILDREN PART II

US, 1978, 100 minutes, Colour.
Jane Alexander, Ronny Cox, Helen Shaver, Danny Aiello.
Directed by Jud Taylor.

Lovey: A Circle of Children Part II continues the original film which was a star vehicle for Jane Alexander and Rachel Roberts. Jane Alexander portrays Mary McCracken?, the author of the books on whom the screenplay is based. She continues her work with handicapped children. Some of the children continue over from the first film: Rufus, Brian, Jamie. However, the focus of this film is on Hannah and her withdrawn attitudes, tantrums and a gradual appreciation of life. The film also focuses on Mary McCracken's personal life, her encountering Cal (Ronnie Cox) and the possibility of a new commitment.

Just as the first film was a moving account of a teacher working with children, so is the sequel. There are many fine sequences showing the potential for a gifted teacher to work with handicapped children who might otherwise never have a chance.

1. The impact of the original film? act on its own?

2. This film as a sequel? Its impact?

3. A telemovie style for a telemovie audience? Emotional impact and response? Identification with teacher, with children, with parents? Hope for the home audience? The school, Mary's home, Calls laboratory? A balance of the real world with the world of the school? The musical score for emotional background?

4. The title and the focus on Hannah, Mary calling her Lovey, no-one else calling her that? The circle of children - holding hands together, round their teacher?

5. The film's portrait of Mary McCracken? Jane Alexander's presence, and style? The beginning of the school year, Doris and her request about Hannah? Mary's refusal? The initial encounter with Hannah, the tantrum in the schoolroom, persuading her to come? Her manner and style with the three boys? her past experience with them? Her warmth, patience? Her understanding? The voice-over with her difficulties and plans? Hannah and the sitting in the closet? Mary's attempts to draw her out as well as cope with the other children? Brian and his brightness, helping him to cope, to go to Junior High School? Rufus similarly? Jamie and getting him to say his name? The enticing of Hannah from the closet? Her reading her background, her interview with her mother, encouraging her mother? Hannah coming out of curiosity, the dolls and her crushing the doll? Her tantrum with the lunch and the chairs? Her patience? Chasing Mary with her lunch? The gradual confidence? Cutting her hair, looking in the mirror, with the other children? Going on the picnic and her singing, joining with the others and looking at the fish, talking? The tantrum with the paints? The ups and downs of her moods? Learning the rules and the question of dessert - and her frantic mother worried about the blue dress? The present of the dress? The St. Valentine's Day gifts from herself and her mother? Her warmth towards Mary as teacher? Mary's satisfaction and patience? Her own experience - discussions with her daughter, doting? Pattie and the outings, people trying to fix her up with a date? The inspector and his promise about Brian, suggestions for her to meet Ed? The meeting with Cal, their friendship, the lift home and her resistance about involvement, the tennis game, the bond between the two? Outings? Talking frankly about their marriages? The visit to Calls office? Her stance on her children, his visit? The discussion about her future, the possibility of leaving the school? The rehearsals for Brian to go on the bus by himself? The story of the horse that had to be independent? The final party, her farewell? The achievement? The postscript about her work?

6. The portrait of the children: Rufus, Brian, Jamie? Their parents? The progress of each according to their capacities? Their treatment of Hannah, antagonism towards her, gradually welcoming her?

7. Hannah as d difficult child, the tantrum, going to the classroom, her not washing, the same dress? Sitting in the closet? Wildly eating her lunch? The background of her operation? Her brother calling her a retard? Her mother's concern? Gradually being enticed out, the games with the dolls - and her crushing the doll? The tantrum about the lunch, with the chairs? The tantrum with the paints? yet her curiosity bringing her out of herself? The picnic, her Joining the others wobbling the wharf, looking at the fish? Joining in the songs? Talking? Her appearance, her hair, the dress? The gifts? Her joining in, understanding the story of the horse? her achievement and Mary's achievement? her mother's contribution?

8. Cal and his friendship, background of marriage, separation, dating, involvement, the tennis, his inventions, laboratory, the distance between the two and Mary's choice? Discussing her situation? His going with her at the end?

9. Pattie and her concern, trying to date for Mary? Discussions about giving up in class? Elizabeth and her concern about her mother? The inspector and his interest? Doris and her help?

10. The picture of an educator: empathy, patience, questions, self-giving, devices for bringing, the children out of themselves, recognising their potential? The particular scenes highlighting a teacher's method?

11. A teacher and her not caring for herself? Others worried about her? The parallel with the children, and her growing up emotionally?

12. An interesting film? Entertaining? Inspiring?