DO YOU REMEMBER LOVE?

US, 1985, 100 minutes, Colour.
Joanne Woodward, Richard Kiley, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jim Metzler, Susan Ruttan.
Directed by Jeff Bleckner.

Do You Remember Love is an Emmy Award-winning telemovie about Alzheimer's Disease. It is well written and acted - enabling audiences to understand something of the development of the disease, the deterioration of the sufferer, the consequences for those trying to care for the sufferer.

Joanne Woodward gives an Emmy Award-winning performance as Barbara, an eccentric poet-professor, who discovers she has Alzheimer's Disease and deteriorates before the eyes of her family and colleagues. (It is said that Joanne Woodward's mother suffered from the disease.) Richard Kiley is excellent as the supportive, sometimes exasperated and proud, husband. Geraldine Fitzgerald appears as Barbara's mother.

The film takes the opportunity to give some explanations of the disease, describe and dramatise its symptoms, show that there are support groups, but also shows that there is no known cure.

A film worth seeing for the portrayal of themes, for characterisations, for understanding a debilitating illness.

1. The impact of the telemovie, serious, human interest, information? Designed for the wide television audience?

2. The title, Barbara's poetry, her final speech - and the aftermath of her life?

3. Audiences identifying with this American family, American situations? Characters, place, work?

4. Audience knowledge of Alzheimer's disease or not? The explanations given in the film? Symptoms, dementia, behaviour? The information given in the support group, by the doctor?

5. Joanne Woodward as Barbara: her relationship with her husband, her son and daughter-in-law, her mother? The experience of the sabbatical, her joy on returning to work, meeting with friends, discussing with colleagues, the severity of Marvin? Her eccentricity, her poetry? Her eliminating students from classes? Her beginning to forget, going in the wrong direction? The difficult classes, losing the thread of her thought, the students trying to ask questions, her angers, distractions, walking out of class? Her relationship with her mother, her mother's hospitalisation, bringing her home? Her anger with her mother, bringing out past angers?

6. Her going to the nominating party, the possibility of the Longfellow Award? George wary of her behaviour? The introduction to the critic, his unctuous flow of words, her sardonic observations? The psychologist observing her? Recommendation to go to the doctor, the battery of tests? Going to the doctor for the result, his plain telling her of the truth?

7. Barbara and her deterioration, the classes as failures, the staff discussing what to do, giving her leave of absence? Her physically attacking George? Clashes with her mother? Out with her friend in the shopping mall and her rudeness, getting lost in the corridors? Driving the car erratically? The labels in the house to help her? The times when she could joke and laugh with George? The erratic wanting to make love? Going into the pool with the children and being arrested?

8. Her winning the Longfellow prize, the family's support, her wanting to write a speech and finding it so difficult with the typewriter? The family deciding whether she should go? The giving of the award, her going to the rostrum, words failing her, her standing helpless and loving as George read her words? The impact of this finale?

9. The portrait of George as an ordinary citizen, the long years of love for his wife, supporting her, puzzled by her, getting advice, observing her, the psychiatrist observing her, going to the doctor, putting labels on things at home, his growing impatience and his outburst, her attacking him? Yet his wanting to give her his love and support? Not wanting to go to the group, finally going, listening to the discussion, talking about his own feelings? The prize, helping her, making demands on the family, admitting his mistakes in keeping them out?

10. Tom and his relationship with his mother, avoiding her because of the illness, his own fears? His wife giving advice, supporting him? The sketch of Lorraine, strong elderly woman, falling in hospital, the possibilities of going to a home - and the pathos when Barbara went on the tour of the home and saw herself? Her concern about going to a home when she was helpless? Lorraine and the family discussion, present at her daughter's award?

11. The psychiatrist, his friendship and help? The doctor and the tests and the explanations?

12. The university staff, friendship, jealousy of colleagues? The satire on the critic and his commentary on her poetry?

13. The support group meetings, the pathos of the spouses, the helplessness of the sufferers? The black husband and his talk about the diaper for his wife? The wife and her concern about money payments and insurance, bankruptcy? The effect on George?

14. Dramatising the progress of an illness, audience emotional response, receiving information, understanding and learning to cope?