DRIVING MISS DAISY

US, 1989, 99 minutes, Colour.
Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman, Dan Aykroyd, Patti Lu Pone.
Directed by Bruce Beresford.

Driving Miss Daisy is a film about goodness - not perfection, human goodness with all its foibles and faults, but its resilience.

The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Alfred Uhry. Uhry adapted his play for the screen. It is directed by Bruce Beresford - and has the humanity of his '80s films Tender Mercies, The Fringe Dwellers, as well as some of the acerbity of Crimes of the Heart.

The film is beautifully acted by Jessica Tandy in one of her finest performances as the feisty but genteel southern lady. Morgan Freeman, quite different from his street pimp in Street Smart and his tough presentation of teacher Joe Clark in Lean On Me, is very affecting as Hoke the driver. Dan Aykroyd changes from comedy to portray the nice but rather bland son of Miss Daisy. Esther Rolle is good in the role of the cook.

The film has the setting of Atlanta, Georgia, the '40s to the '60s. While it focuses on individuals, Miss Daisy is Jewish and Hoke is black. Themes of prejudice are there just below the surface at the beginning but emerge quite strongly towards the end with the presence of Martin Luther King.

Beautifully made, moving and humorous, with a final image of Hoke feeding Miss Daisy in the old people's home - a sign of reconciliation and friendship.

The three stars were nominated for Oscars with Jessica Tandy winning as Best Actress. While Bruce Beresford was not nominated as director, the film itself won for Best Film (beating such high-flyers as Born on the Fourth of July and My Left Foot).

1. A film about goodness, friendship? Race prejudice? America?

2. The Atlanta settings, the period, Miss Daisy's home, the world of the cotton industry? Alabama countryside? The musical score and its themes? Songs?

3. The film based on a play, the adaptation by the author for the screen? Scenes, acts, speeches, interactions?

4. The title and the meanings, especially as regards change and friendship? Quietly driving Miss Daisy to change?

5. The portrait of Miss Daisy and Jessica Tandy's presence? The opening with the car and the reverse? Her friendship with Idella? Her reliance on her son, arguing with him? The insurance question and her ignoring him, singing? At home, the card games with her friends? Meeting Hoke, ignoring him, criticising him, asking him to stop interfering? Her work in her room, writing letters? Her relationship with blacks - references to `they' but declaring she wasn't prejudiced? Going to the store and Hoke following her, getting in, being cantankerous, mistakes about the streets? Her going on more trips with him, taking it for granted? Jewish, going to the temple, prayer, the rabbi? Hoke with the car at the steps and her embarrassment? Her relationship with Boolie, relying on him, his support? Her attitude towards Florine? Disdain? The visits? Her working in the garden? The issue of the can of salmon, her vindictiveness, Hoke and his honesty?

6. The passing of the years, tending her husband's grave? Relying on Hoke, an easier relationship with him? Helping him to read the letters at the cemetery, the Christmas gift of the reading manual? The outings, the '50s? Hoke and Idella in the house and her taking them for granted? Her still being cantankerous? The changing of the cars? The trip to Alabama, her being early, the picnic, held up by the police, being lost and her regrets? Listening to Hoke about his being human and wanting to stop the car? Her telling the story of going to Mobile and tasting the sea? Enjoying the 90th birthday?

7. Miss Daisy in the '60s, the same pattern of life, television in the kitchen, Idella's death? Going with her son and Florine with Hoke to the funeral? The white Jewish group listening to the black ceremony? Her ageing, yet keeping up with the modern world? Having to cook after Idella's death? Arguments with Hoke but following his advice? The seasons, the snow and Hoke coming, their being together? The bombing of the temple and the shock about terrorism? Boolie and his award? The influence of Martin Luther King, Boolie not wanting to go for fear of prejudice with his business associates? Talking to Hoke, not realising he would have liked to go to the dinner, listening to Martin Luther King with Hoke outside? King's words about the good people and their not changing?

8. Her decline in health, imagining the classroom, needing help from Boolie and from Hoke? The tenderness of her saying Hoke was her best friend? In the home, her walking, wanting her visit with Hoke? Talking, sharing, the Thanksgiving pie and Hoke feeding her?

9. Her experience in the south, a 19th century woman, the school and the photos, her teaching, her marriage, learning about cars from her husband, memories of her hard times - but Hoke reminding her that she was rich now? Being careful, slow in the car? Jewish, temple, friends and the mah-jong games? Her pride, suspicion? Not considering herself prejudiced? Yet the separation at meals from Hoke and Idella? Learning, changing? The experience of being equal with Hoke?

10. Boolie and his relationship with his mother, supporting her, exasperated? His wife and her pushiness, showy style, the parties, the cowboy dress, going to New York and Washington? Listening to his mother, hiring Hoke? The decoration of his house at Christmas? The incident of the salmon can? His work at the factory, developments? Not going to Mobile? The award and his speech? Not going to the Martin Luther King dinner? His fears? The discussion with Hoke about the raise? His devotion to his mother?

11. The portrait of Hoke, the introduction to him, helping fix the lift? The interview with Boolie? His past, family, working for the judge? A good man, friendship with Idella? Talking to Miss Daisy, following her in the car, wanting to work and earn his living? Driving her to the market, to the temple? Their easy interaction, her criticisms, his responses? The southern black manner - yet the dignity shining through and his telling Miss Daisy over the years of his rights as a human being? The trip to Alabama, his needing to get out of the car, Miss Daisy feeling lost without him? Being pulled up by the police and their prejudice? The growing friendship, reading at the cemetery, the gift? Buying Miss Daisy's car? Watching television? His shrewdness with his wage increase? Cooking, yet the separate dinner? Martin Luther King's speech? Miss Daisy getting senile, his granddaughter driving him to the home, the visit with Miss Daisy, feeding her? Learning, living with a person, teaching?

12. Miss Daisy's friends, Jewish women of the south, temple, the games?

13. The theme of Jews in the southern states, prejudice, temple, Christmas celebrations?

14. The blacks and the south, Hoke and the 19th century, the stories he told, his experiences, prejudice?

15. The Alabama police on the old Jewish woman and the black chauffeur - a sorry sight?