SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

US, 1993, 107 minutes, Colour.
Stockard Channing, Will Smith, Donald Sutherland, Ian McKellan?, Mary Beth Hurt, Bruce Davison, Richard Masur, Anthony Michael Hall, Heather Graham, Eric Thal.
Directed by Fred Schepisi.

The original play, by John Guare who has adapted it for the screen, was a Broadway prize-winner. The adaptation retains most of the dialogue (and it definitely is a film of words and dialogue) but Schepisi has filmed it cinematically, moving in and out of interiors fluidly, editing the conversations as the audience responds to the various speakers and their reactions, moving into effective flashbacks.

And the conversations are interesting, fluent and stimulating even if most of them are presented in the context of gossip.

Ouisa Kittredge (Stockard Channing repeating her stage role in an Oscar-nominated performance, remarks that her story has become an anecdote to dine out on, but the encounter between herself and her art-dealer husband (Donald Sutherland) with the suave and elegant con-man (Will Smith) who passes himself off as Sidney Poitier's son is a significant experience. It transforms her life.

Acting is excellent. Sets and decor are stylish and affluent. Jerry Goldsmith's score is striking (especially his tango
theme). The dialogue raises quite a number of issues of truth and life, greed and envy, art and reality... Stimulating
anecdotes and experiences.

1. The title, Ouisa's explanation to her daughter? The significance of the interconnectedness of all people? Discovering this interconnectedness?

2. The New York City settings, affluent apartments, the world of art, Central Park, social functions, the streets, the excursion to the Sistine Chapel? The importance of the musical score, the tango theme, the jazz style?

3. The structure: the flashbacks and the telling of an anecdote, the various functions and the rich people chattering, the discussions with the police, dinners? Ouisa's comment that it was more than an anecdote, an experience? The reference to Cats, T.S. Elliot in Cats saying that people can have the experience but miss the meaning?

4. The film based on a play, the way that it was opened out? The busy editing, fragments of memories and conversations? The strength of the dialogue, the speeches, the quality of the language, artistry? The delight in art and beauty?

5. Flan and Ouisa: their age, Flan and his work, the art world, a dealer, not having a gallery, always needing money, putting up deals, especially for the Japanese? The paintings stored in the apartment? Their fears about life in New York, phobias? The children away from home, studying? Their affluent lifestyle, their range of friends, talk and chatter, dining out instead of at home? Going to weddings, art openings, receptions and dinners?

6. Their experience of Paul, the initial effect, changing them - Ouisa more so than Flan? The first response to Paul, concern about his injuries, having him into the house, the cooking, the meal, listening to him talk? Jeffrey giving the money for the art deal in response to Paul's vivacity? Their angry response to having the hustler in the apartment? Their fears that they could have been murdered, frantic and exaggerated behaviour? Being confronted by the hustler? Going to the church, talking about the event? Ouisa and her wanting to talk about the meeting with Paul, their friends and the similar experience, the doctor and his experience? Ringing their kids, trying to find out who Paul was? The discovery that Trent was the source of the information, his relationship with Paul? Ouisa and her discussions with her daughter? The young would-be actress and her boyfriend, his death, her coming to Flan and Ouisa? Paul describing Flan as his father? Their reaction to this new information? Paul on the phone, Flan's reaction, his hostility? Ouisa and her listening, compassion, the bargain about the police, her going to the cinema, the police arriving too early, their arresting him? His final look at her? Her going to the police station, not even knowing his true name? The promises that she had made him? The fact that he had done more for them than their kids had done? The talk at the table, confronting Flan, her leaving, her walking down the street, leaping in the air and reaching out in the high-five? Her having had the experience?

7. The basic situation, Paul's arrival, wounded, the story about being mugged, his thesis gone? His capacity to talk, articulate? The range of his knowledge? Their giving first aid, showing him the apartment, the Kandinsky double painting? Listening to the story of his father, the production of Cats, their asking to be in it as extras? The history of Sidney Poitier and his significance in America, the American cinema? Their buying the book and discovering the truth about his family? Paul preparing the meal, talking about art, the thesis and the analysis of Catcher in the Rye, bringing them seconds? Staying, their giving him $50? As a rounded and charming character?

8. The hustler episode, Ouisa hearing the noise, seeing the hustler, his running round the apartment, the confrontation, their throwing him out, Paul's attempt at an explanation, wanting the joy of sex with all his other joy? Their disappointment and ousting him?

9. The flashbacks for Paul, his learning with Trent, the sexual bargain after Trent finding him in the doorway? Trent, his being a friend with the children, knowing all about them, a computer brain? The bargain, training him to speak, "Bottle of beer"? Paul and the rapidity of his learning, his knowing everything about the families? The confidence tricks, the couple, the doctor? Everybody believing him? His moving in with Elizabeth and her boyfriend, the discussions about money, going out with them, the attraction of the young man, the carriage ride, the sexual experience? The money, Elizabeth upset, the young man killing himself - and the couple seeing him dead on the street? The final phone call, his having to take responsibility, Ouisa persuading him to go to the police? His going, the arrest? Ouisa telling the story of the young man hanging himself - and the possibility that it was Paul? His being a conman, his mental state, claiming Sidney Poitier as his father, claiming Flan as his father - and being utterly convincing?

10. The other couple, the doctor, their relationship with their children, all the children having been educated together, comparing their stories, parts in Cats, going to the police, the doctor and the flashback, his meeting with Paul, giving him the key of his home, wanting him arrested - and Paul's response? The son and his despising of his father?

11. The portrait of the children, their lifestyle, selfish, attitudes towards their parents, the clash between doctor and son? Ouisa and Flan's children, their complaining? The agreement to do the search and their participation in it?
12. Trent, his character, succumbing to Paul, telling the truth, the fact that he never saw him again?

13. The background of the film in art, the discussions about art, Jeffrey and the meal, the South African money, his contribution? The background of the good life, theatre, literature, film, philosophy? Stimulating talk?

14. The visit to the Vatican, Ouisa and the Sistine Chapel, going up to the roof, touching the hand of God - and her repeating this at the end?

15. A stimulating film, irony, emotion, the contrast between superficiality and depth?