SUNSHINE

US, 1973, 103 minutes, Colour.
Christina Raines, Cliff De Young, Brenda Vaccaro.
Directed by Joseph Sargent.

Sunshine was made for American television screening. It was shown in Australian theatres with great success. It seems to have appealed to audiences tired of trends of violence. The film is based on true events, on tapes made by a dying girl as some means of living on after her death and as something to bequeath to her daughter. The film is reminiscent of Love Story in tone and in some of its themes, but it is stronger in its dealing with illness and death as well as in emotional conflicts caused by the moodiness consequent upon illness. John Denver's popular music is featured.

1 The irony of the name of this film? The song and its overtones? The happiness in sadness? The atmosphere of sunshine? The picture of real events and real persons?

2. The human interest, especially for feminine audiences, identifying with Kate? How sad was the film? What atmosphere did the songs add, especially the 'Sunshine' song, and the song at O'Briens? The use of 'Country Road' at the funeral?

3. The film was structured into flashbacks: the funeral was first, then the reminiscence. How effective dramatically was this? Would the film have been better if it had moved forward chronologically? Why?

4. The use of the tapes: the fact that this was true, the heritage of the tapes, the way of communicating the feelings of the dying person? How impressive was this? How important was the world in which Kate and Sam lived? The atmosphere of drop-outs from modern society, of their doing their own thing, yet finding a place in the real world of hotels, shops, and hospitals? How does this help younger modern audiences to relate to the characters and to the film?

5. How attractive a personality was Kate? The fact that we knew that she had died and she was dying during the film? The call on our sympathies and emotions? Was her background sufficiently filled in? Her relationship with her mother, her leaving home, the lack of love between mother and daughter? The nature of her marriage and its lovelessness? The importance she gave to carrying the child and not aborting it?

6. The lack of relationship with the child's father? Her dependence on Sam and his goodness to her? The way that she faced-up to her illness? Her relying on the treatments and then her rebelling against them? The fact that she could love and hate at the same time?

7. The joy in giving birth to Jill and her bringing-up of Jill? The joy of the wedding in hospital? The boost that taping her experiences gave her? Her dependence on the doctor? The quality of her dying? The way that she brought some sunshine into other peoples lives? How much of a modern heroine was she? How impressive was the film in its treatment of themes of life and death, of youth and aging, of peace and rebellion?

8. How did the film show immortality as a basic drive in mankind? The fact that Kate wanted to make a mark in her world? The heritage of her spirit for her child? What is the meaning of this basic drive not to die?

9. How attractive a personality was Sam? How much nobility in his marrying Kate and his caring for Jill? His weaknesses and the affair with Nora? The exasperation at Kate's love and hate? His need for his own achievement in his music? The importance of the achievement at O'Briens? How real was his rebellion against Kate and her refusal of medication? How complex a person was Sam and how realistic was this presentation?

10. How attractive a friend was Nora? Her love for Kate and Sam? For Jill? Would she look after Jill well?

11. The importance of Kate's cousins and friends, the musicians, the people with whom she moved? The friendship she gave them and the joy that it gave to her? The support she had from the doctor? The friendship she got from the doctor, especially in her death?

12. The hospital atmosphere and modern medicine? The need for money, the need for patience, the need for research?

13. The final image was of Jill? What was the purpose of this?