DAD

US, 1989, 118 minutes, Colour.
Jack Lemmon, Ted Danson, Olympia Dukakis, Kevin Spacey, Ethan Hawke, Kathy Baker, J.T.Walsh.
Directed by Gary David Goldberg.

Dad was written and directed by Gary David Goldberg, writer and director for many years of Family Ties. It is based on a novel by celebrated writer William Wharton (Birdy). The film is a tour de force for Jack Lemmon portraying a 78-year-old man. He is well supported by Ted Danson as his son. Olympia Dukakis gives a variation on her mother and wife performance (Moonstruck, Look Who's Talking) and Kathy Baker and Kevin Spacey are very good as the daughter and son-in-law. Ethan Hawk (Dead Poets Society) is Danson's son.

The film focuses on old age (memories of On Golden Pond). It also focuses on generation relationships and terminal illness (variations on Terms of Endearment). The comparisons are helpful. The first part of Dad highlights old age, family relationships, difficulties and illness. In the second half, as Dad gets his new lease of life, the film seems to go somewhat whacky. So do the characters - in an attempt to rediscover the meaning of life, vitality and joy. While the impact of the first part remains, the second part perhaps strives too hard for its effect, is too cute, perhaps too American. However, Dad is an emotional experience dramatising its issues.

1. Themes of family, ageing? Truth and love? Illness and death? American sensibility? Universal sensibility?

2. California settings, Los Angeles, the lifestyle, the homes, supermarkets etc? The musical score, the range of songs?

3. The title and its tone? Jake as father, John as son and father? John and his own son? Family, relationships, reconciliation?

4. The work of the writer-director, the background of television, one-liners, situations and humour? The complex plot, the illnesses? Emotions? Realism and zaniness?

5. Audiences identifying with the characters, situations? An emotional way of experience and learning?

6. John, his work, busy, the meeting, Henny calling, arrival home, Mario and the information, his mother's response, seeing his father helpless? Setting the scene? Seeing the situation through his eyes, his decisions?

7. Bette and Jake: Jake and his memories of the farm, the irony that they were his fantasy? Waking up, Bette helping him in every detail? His age, breakfast, the market, arguing about the pork chops, Bette's collapse? In hospital, concealing the truth, something wrong with her insides? His fear of cancer? Their age, their relationship, their fears, lack of doing things? Stopping their activities of the past?

8. John and his father, John's absences, seeing them together, talking, turning off the television, helping with the pyjamas, sleeping in the room, the breakfast, the lists, getting the jobs done, Jake and his response, cleaning the house, the laundry, shopping, sprucing up? The visit to his wife? Going to the bingo (and the talk about the deaths of friends)? The effect on Jake, on John?

9. Annie as loving, supporting her father? Love for Mario? Mario as a friendly character? Bette mocking his comments? Her return home at the party, all together?

10. Billy and his background, study, his mother, the parents' separation? Not seeing his father much? In Mexico, his arrival, love for his grandparents, concern? His appearance, earring etc? John's reaction?

11. The blood in the toilet bowl, to hospital, Dr Santana and his treatment, tough, telling Jake about the cancer, Jake's fears, the operation, going into coma? John, his anger? The visits to the hospital, the vigils? Carrying his father out of the hospital, trying to look after him, the fears, especially with Jake under the bed and John searching the house? The administrator and his apology? Dr Chad, his diagnosis, change in Jake? John moving into the hospital? Billy and the vigils? Jake waking up, the staff applauding?

12. Jake and his return to life, more lively, buying the clothes, the fashion parade with all the strange clothes? Visiting the neighbours, the Asian children, cake to neighbours? The Japanese meal and everybody having to participate? Playing golf? Bette's angry outburst at the Japanese meal? `

13. Jake, living in his fantasy, imagining an ideal life, in comparison with his work? His talking with John? The theme of workers and bosses? John and his trying to cope with Bette's anger, trying to persuade her to go along with the fantasy? The psychologist and the information of how to handle the situation?

14. The importance of the new lease of life on Jake, recovering his past, the possibilities of life? Bette and her bossiness, her fears, reluctant to break through?

15. The importance of the talk between John and Billy, Billy's direct questions, the making of money? John and his having to review his life, his options? Wanting them to give advice to each other? To be forgiving? The reconciliation?

16. The information about Jake's cancer, having to go to hospital, his ability to face the situation, face the possibility of death? In hospital, talking, resting? The family visiting? His memories, the farewell? John and his devotion to his father, the embrace, lying down on the bed beside his father?

17. The funeral, Bette and the support of her neighbours? Being able to cope? The group loyalty? Billy and John in the greenhouse, their farewell to their father?

18. Emotional response to the film, the characters, the situations? Learning by emotional identification?