THE LONG WAY HOME
US, 1998, 100 minutes, Colour.
Jack Lemmon, Sarah Paulson, Betty Garrett.
Directed by Glenn Jordan.
The Long Way Home is one of Jack Lemmon's final films. As with Tuesdays with Morrie, he plays a man in his seventies, retired, facing the prospect of death. Lemmon is sympathetic as well as powerful in the role. His character is retired, his house and goods sold, he moves in with his son and fussing daughter-in-law. The opportunity comes for him to visit an old friend in California and he hitchhikes across the country with a young student, Sarah Paulson, going home to her family in Carmel. The film shows the bonds between the two, the differences between the generations, the rapport. They finally arrive in Carmel, the girl discovers that her father is dying, gets support from Lemmon. Meanwhile he visits his friend of fifty-five years earlier, a girl he almost married. For movie buffs, there is a bonus as she is played by Betty Garrett, who appeared in such musicals as Neptune's Daughter, On the Town, Take Me Out to the Ball Game and, with Lemmon, My Sister Eileen. However, she appeared very little on-screen.
The film is directed by Glenn Jordan, director of a number of films including adaptations of Neil Simon like Only When I Laugh as well as many telemovies.
1. A pleasing telemovie? A portrait of old age? The differences between the generations, clashes, rapport?
2. The title, its irony about Tom's journey home? The long way, via California? The film as a road movie, the journey on the road, being picked up as hitchhikers, getting the bus? From Kansas to California?
3. The American countryside, the small Kansas country towns, the range of scenery, the shops, the motels, the contrast with the affluence and pleasant surroundings of California?
4. The character of Tom: age, experience, love for his wife, the long marriage, his daughters feeling that he was distant, the sons wanting affection from their father? His not realising this? His talking to his dead wife, the grave, walking along the street? The sale and his keeping the plane, the cabinet? His daughter-in-law fussing over him? His relationship with his sons? His going to cash the cheque, wandering, meeting Marco at the circus and their discussions? His wandering home, searching for the short cut, fall, on the road, almost knocked over by Leanne? Helping her with the tyre, going in the car, the diner, the men harassing Leanne and his hitting them, their pursuit, the crash of the crash of the car, his decision to go to California, the hitchhiking, the night in the motel, her changing in front of him and his embarrassment, lying on the bed clothed, the altercation at breakfast? His continuing on, the bus, the trucker and her comments? The need for phone calls, his avoiding them? The policeman finding them? His continuing on, California, Leanne's home? The meal, Leanne's father dying, the mother and the fights? His discussions with Leanne about family? The phone call, his going to see Ronnie? His delight, spending the day, reminiscing, what might have been, the photos, inviting her to visit? His final phone call, the decision about discussions, a toolshed and his continuing to work, his future? A rounded portrait of an old man?
5. Leanne, with her boyfriend, going back home, the gift of the car, her chatting with people, nearly killing Tom, changing the tyre, the diner, her being harassed, driving fast and crashing the car? Her liking Tom, their discussions, staying at the motel, her thoughtlessness, apology? Her father, his dying, her sadness, talking with him, the clashes with her mother? Helping Tom to see Ronnie? The farewell?
6. Tom's family, the two boys, their age, experience, marriages, their attitude towards their father, to put him in a home or keep him in the house? The phone calls and their being anxious? Bonnie and her fussing, concern? Tom returning home to them? The absent sisters and the reasons?
7. Leanne's father, genial, dying? Her mother and wealth, proper, clashing?
8. Marco and the circus, the friendship? The ride and the discussions and memories? The police, the clerk at the motel and his phoning?
9. A film highlighting the fact that people are living longer lives, the children generation being older but having the responsibility for their parents? Reassessing family, the distance of the older generation, the children generation and the grandchildren needing affection, intimacy and love?
