GABY
US, 1987, 114 minutes, Colour.
Rachel Levin, Liv Ullman, Robert Loggia, Norma Aleandro, Lawrence Monoson, Robert Beltran.
Directed by Luis Mandoki.
Gaby is a true story of a woman cerebral palsy. Gaby Brimmer, the subject of the film, told her story to the writer-director, Luis Mandoki (White Palace, When a Man Loves a Woman, Message in a Bottle), and was producer of this film.
Rachel Levin is attractive and persuasive as Gaby. The film also has the strength of performance by Liv Ullmann and Robert Loggia as her parents. However, the strength of the film is in the performance by Norma Aleandro (Official Story, Cousins) as the simple nurse who is able to understand, appreciate and help Gaby to grow as a human being.
The film is set in Mexico City and filmed there, from the '40s to the early '70s. it is a story of courage and enables an audience to appreciate somebody with a physical handicap and see the need for humane treatment of handicapped people rather than presumptions against them. The film is also quite frank in its transplant of Gaby's growing up, loves and dislikes, angers and fights, growing sexuality, ambitions and disappointments. The film has a score by Oscar winner Maurice Jarre.
1. The impact of the story, a true story, a story of handicap, coping and overcoming?
2. The true story, Gabrielle Brimmer's role as producer, her memoir, her perspective?
3. The Mexico City settings, atmosphere, home, schools, university, tennis courts? The '40s and '50s, the contrast with the '60s and early '70s? Music and dance? Maurice Jarre's score?
4. The prologue and the Brimmers, having to leave Austria, going to Mexico, the set-up, the birth of David, the birth of Gaby?
5. The sketch of Sari and Miguel: their life together, love, the birth of Gaby, the discovery of her handicap, having to cope, the treatment, doctors and advice, the range of nurses?
6. Audience knowledge or lack of knowledge of cerebral palsy, the physical consequences, mental consequences, intelligence and communication?
7. The portrait of Nanny: in herself, a simple woman, at work in the household, curiosity about the child, feeding it in the early morning, able to communicate with the girl, getting her to move her leg for 'yes' and 'no'? The reactions of the parents, of the nurse? Nursing the child, learning to love, a substitute mother? Becoming indispensable, sharing in her education? A fulfilment for her? Having to learn to read and Sari teaching her, Miguel teaching her how to drive? Taking Gaby to school, providing the answers for the teacher? The disdain of Carlos? Nanny's reactions, sometimes upset? At home and tensions? Sharing Gaby's tensions? Fernando and sharing with him, the phone calls, their rebellion, Fernando's rebellion against his mother? The sexual encounter, her knowing what was going on, taking Sari for a walk, supporting her? The question about the exam, the university? Going to the university, answering the professors, her embarrassment? The passing of time? Gaby fighting her control? The scene at the table, Miguel making Nanny part of the family? The friendship with Luis, communication? The Nanny as a shrewd and simple woman, her support of a life, Gaby being her life? The film as a tribute to her?
8. Gaby as a child, not communicating, with Nanny, learning how to communicate with her feet, growing up, spelling out the words, typing? At school, her intellectual curiosity, knowing the answers about Mexican history? Carlos and her mocking him? The friendship with Fernando, his rebellion against his mother, ringing the phone but not able to speak, his returning her call, the mother listening in, the rendezvous at the tennis match, the meetings, the sexual encounter - real, physical, emotional? Her study, wanting to do the exam, Fernando's not coming, her almost giving up? Sari giving her the ultimatum? Fernando not able to cope? The university and her studies, the questions of the professor, friendship with Luis, the writing the story, Luis arranging to meet the publisher, his shock? Going to Luis' room, her being hurt? The socials? Her place in the family, the clash about Nanny? Reconciliation? Her father's death? Her mother's absence, the return, the covering the house in flowers? Her achievement?
9. Sari and her care, the servants, tensions, seeing the sexual encounter, walking with Nanny? Going to the authorities about the school and the exam? Attacking Miguel, his heart attack? His death? Going away, her. return and the flowers? Miguel, his absence, silences yet his support, his heart condition and death?
10. Fernando and his skill, study, rebelling, his mother, the sexual encounter, loss of nerve for the exam?
11. Luis as a happy type, the socials with Gaby, the writing of the article, her visit to his room and his not being able to follow up the relationship?
12. The themes of ordinariness and handicap, coping on the part of the handicapped person, on the part of others? Strength? The importance of support and love of friends?
