ROAD TO SALINA

France/Italy, 1969, 103 minutes, Colour.
Mimsy Farmer, Robert Walker, Rita Hayworth, Ed. Begley.
Directed by George Lautner.

Road to Salina is certainly not a "must see" film. But it has some interesting aspects. It is a melodramatic story of dual identities, a mother's obsessive love and a murder. It attempts to be very atmospheric with many lingering shots of the countryside (actually filmed in the Canary Islands). Robert Walker fits the strange part of the hero. Mimsy Farmer is irritating in mannerism. Rita Hayworth is more successful as Mara, the mother.

1. Was this meant to be a popular thriller or did the director have more serious intentions? If so, what were they?

2. Was the film well constructed - the flashbacks and their complexity and the ever-growing sense of menace as Jonas and the police chief were driving back to the house?

3. Did the setting contribute much to the film? The camera spent a long time looking at the road, the contours of the hill, the sand, the beaches. Was this important or just meant to be pretty?

4. The sense of the film comes from the interplay of characters - love, obsession, possession, hatred. Was the film interesting? distasteful in its preoccupation with some of the more bizarre aspects of love and affection, the suggestions of incest?

5. Jonas - what kind of man was he? a drifter, an opportunist? Did he have any character? Why did he stay? Did he have any real feeling for Mara? Did he love Billie or was it just a physical, sexual attraction? Why did he not go off with his friends? Why was he absorbed by the personality of Rocky? by Billie? Did he develop any personality through this experience? Billie - what kind of girl was she? Was she likeable? Did Mimsy Farmer's mannerisms spoil her characterisation? Was she playing games with Jonas and Mara? How had her relationship with Rocky affected her? Why did she kill him? Mara - was she mad? Did you like her? feel sorry for her? Did she really think that Jonas was Rocky? Why did she possess him? Did this experience destroy or save her?

8. Warren - what was his role in the film? How did he relate to each of them? How did they react to him? How did he contribute to the solution of the case?

9. Does the film seem better after discussing it or not? Did you discover good points in it or did it seem hollower? Why?