DUET FOR ONE

UK, 1987, 107 minutes, Colour.
Julie Andrews, Alan Bates, Max Von Sydow, Rupert Everett, Liam Neeson,
Directed by Andrei Konchalovski.

Duet For One is based on the play by Tom Kempinski, who collaborated in the adaptation of his play for the screen, along with director Andrei Konchalovski (Maria's Lovers, Runaway Train, Shy People).

The film seems somewhat stagebound at times, a presentation of characters in a rather histrionic style. Julie Andrews portrays a celebrated violinist (based on Jacqueline Du Pre) who suffers from multiple sclerosis. Alan Bates is her conductor husband (based on director Daniel Barenboim). Max von Sydow is her psychiatrist.

The story of Jacqueline Du Pre was told in the 1998, Hilary and Jackie with Emily Watson as the cellist.

The film shows the complicated reaction of the celebrated artist - a mixture of love and hate, self-pity and self-assertion, suicidal tendencies along with a desire to live. Julie Andrews is interesting in this role. The other characters tend to be stereotypes of their roles: Bates as the wandering husband, von Sydow as the sympathetic but Scandinavian-style gloomy psychiatrist.

There is a great deal of classical music and violin-playing throughout the film. (There are supporting roles by Rupert Everett and Liam Neeson who were emerging as starts at this period.)

1. Interesting drama? The arts? The artist? Illness and debilitation?

2. English location: the credits with the introduction to London? London atmosphere? The English countryside? The musical score, the classical pieces?

3. The title and its focus? Music? Skill in playing? Creativity in playing? Illness and handicap?

4. The portrait of Stephanie Anderson and Julie Andrews' style? Her visit to the psychiatrist, her self-assertiveness, abrasiveness? The fact of the multiple sclerosis and her fears? Her relationship with her husband, the marriage, the creativity, each in their own career? Her skill as a pianist? The flashbacks and her concerts? Her teaching, especially Constantine? Her playing for friends and her fingers not functioning? The build-up to the performances? The collapse and her having to leave the stage? The effect on her life, on her attitudes? People being friendly and supportive? Her husband and his concern? Her psychiatrist and her avoiding the visits, her finally returning, her attacking him? His skills in letting her talk? His own sadness and her response to this? Her pianist and his death - and his ghostly reappearances, helping her to look at the humorous side of herself, helping her in her difficulties? In her will to live? The separation from her husband, her urging him to go on his tour, her realising his relationship with Penny? Her aggravation towards Penny? Her relationship with Harry, the sexual liaison, going to the club, meeting his wife, sharing with him, the gift of the violin and his selling it? The plan for the recordings, her self-pity, Sonia and her arrival, cancellation of the recordings? The maid and her devotion, the slapping of her face, the voices in the night, her fears, apology? Her attempted suicide and being saved? The old musician and his urging her to live? Her recovery? The passing of the year, friendship with the psychiatrist, the return of David and Penny, Penny's pregnancy? The party in her honour, her looking from the outside, an acceptance of her life?

5. The focus on multiple sclerosis, the physical effect, the paralysing of the pianist's fingers? Her having to go into a wheelchair? Unable to stand, dropping things? The psychological effect - for a human being, being demoralised, thoughts of death, thoughts of suicide? Sense of helplessness - and the scene where David chases the wheelchair? Readjustment to life, to career? Self-assertion and the possibility of coping, work, relationships?

6. The portrait of David, his work in composition, the marriage, conducting? His love for his wife, support at the concert, her collapse? His relationship with Penny? Separation, going on tour, trying to phone his wife? The final separation, Penny's pregnancy? Penny and her work, devotion to David?

6. The portrait of the psychiatrist, his concern, his accepting Stephanie's attacks? Asking her questions? Her abusing him? His confession of inadequacy, concern about his health, asking doctors' opinions? Her change of attitude, compassion for him? Their friendship?

7. Constantine as the star student, his skill in performance, playing with Stephanie? Aware of the mistakes? At the concert? His decision to leave, being in need of money, defying her? His return and her pride in him?

8. Harry, his daughter, collecting the goods? Spurning of Stephanie? The job, taking the goods, his apology? The sexual relationship (and Stephanie discussing this with the psychiatrist)? His singing in the club, the performance, his wife and her tolerance? The gift of the violin and his selling it?

9. Sonia, her support of Stephanie, the agent? Urging her to answer her husband? The cancellation of the concerts?
10. The maid, her devotion, being abused and slapped, the apology?

11. The old musician, his playing, his death? His joke about his hand on his head and stomach? His appearances to Stephanie - especially during her suicide attempt?

12. How well did the film hang together? The various elements? Persuasive for the audience? Helping the audience to understand the characters, especially Stephanie?