DAVID AND LISA
US, 1998, 90 minutes, Colour.
Sidney Poitier, Lukas Haas, Brittany Murphy, Alison Janney.
Directed by Lloyd Kramer.
David and Lisa was originally written in the early 60s by Eleanor Perry and directed by her then husband Frank Perry. It was a very moving film about adolescents with mental illness. Keir Dullea and Janet Margolin were David and Lisa with Howard da Silva as the psychiatrist.
Eleanor Perry has now updated the screenplay for the 1990s. Sidney Poitier, seemingly ageless though seventy at the time, is the psychiatrist. Lukas Haas is strong as David and Brittany Murphy, who was emerging as a star at the time after he performance in Clueless and was to go on to many films including Don't Say a Word, Uptown Girls, Spun, is Lisa. Alison Janney has a good role as David's bewildered mother.
The film focuses on the two young people, David and his obsessions, his paranoia about being touched, his sense of superiority over everyone else. Brittany Murphy is effective as Lisa, distancing people from herself by using rhyming words so that she doesn't have to communicate. Poitier is, as ever, a tower of strength.
The film was directed by Lloyd Kramer, regular director for Oprah Winfrey -funded telemovies.
1. The impact of the film in the 1960s, its reputation, its portrait of mental illness at the time? Its being updated, relevant to psychiatry in the 1990s? Eleanor Perry and her contributions to both screenplays?
2. The film as a psychological case study, as a psycho-drama? Methods of psychiatry, their techniques in therapy? The impact on the residents of the institution?
3. The 1990s, homes, the situations, institutions? The beach, the visit to the museum? The musical score?
4. The film designed for a television audience? For viewers of Oprah Winfrey's program? The broad audience?
5. David, at home, the home movies about himself as a little boy, his relationship with his father, his father's death? His relationship with his mother? A troubled teenager, the violence of his dreams, the clocks, the swords and his killing people?
6. The relationship between David and his mother, her concern, accepting the reality of her son's illnesses? The interviews with John, her returning to the institution, the reasons for her taking home? Her interactions with the other young residents? His leaving again, the end, her desperation?
7. David and his mental illness, obsessions, touch, need for order, focus on time, clocks and his remark about John's clock, his preoccupation with death? His being a snob about sports and other activities, his arrogance? The attraction towards Lisa, at first diagnosing her, disdain for her helper? His method of attacking, mockery, a disguise for his defensiveness?
8. Lisa, her trauma, her rhyming talk, her relationship with her helper, the bond between the two, her improving: Her relationship with the other residents? The attraction to David, liking him, the issue of touch, her being a case for David, her asking, "What do you see?" and his rhyming. Her crisis, running away, taking refuge, being found by David? The film's look at her as a case study, as a person, her difficulties, therapy, growth?
9. Sidney Poitier as Jack, his job, his efficiency in his work, running the institution, his ability to listen, ability to talk, the symbol of time and his unrepaired clock, with parents, with the various residents, with the staff? His interviews with David, in his office, walks? Listening to David's dreams? The growing trust? His interest in David's project about building the efficient clock? The discussions with his mother? David returning, trusting him, thinking of being a psychiatrist, the search for Lisa? A portrait of a good person?
10. The sketch of the other residents, their illnesses, symptoms, behaviour? In the dining room, talk, crying, playing the piano?
11. David as a case study, his illness, his seclusion, wanting to be alone, reading, his room, behaviour at meals? His visits to Jack, controlling them, issues of time, death, the violent dreams, the ambitions of his project, touching, his rhyming responses to Lisa, his care for her, his improving, his mother taking him away, his upset, his return? The achievement in finding Lisa?
12. The film as a contribution to the popular audience understanding or appreciating the troubles of mental illness? Parents and their concern? The possibilities for therapy and healing?
