ROOMMATES

US, 1995, 104 minutes, Colour.
Peter Falk, D.B. Sweeney, Julianne Moore, Ellen Burstyn.
Directed by Peter Yates.

Roommates is based on the autobiography by Max Apple, one of the co-writers of this film, Roommates: My Grandfather's Story. The film boasts a very strong cast led by Peter Falk as the grandfather (having to age over 100 years old) with D.B. Sweeney as his doctor grandson. Julianne Moore has a very sympathetic role as the social worker who marries the grandson. Ellen Burstyn is her snobbish mother.

The film is enjoyable, with a touch of sentimentality. However, Peter Falk as the Polish migrant who has grown up and worked as a baker in the United States, has an edge to his performance (even though it is very similar to his role in Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys). D.B. Sweeney is very serious as the grandson who loves his grandfather who has looked after him since his parents died but finds him exasperating, especially at first in his relationship with Julianne Moore. However, as might be expected, there is ultimate reconciliation though not until after a number of years of semi-estrangement.

The film was directed by Peter Yates, who after a career in England made some significant films in the United States such as Bullitt in the 60s, The Eyewitness in the 70s, The Dresser in the 80s. However, his career was grinding to a halt in the 90s. After this film he made the Michael Caine- Maggie Smith- James Spader comedy Curtain Call.

1. A story of the generations in the United States? The migrants and the subsequent generations? Family loyalties and love? Tensions?

2. The opening in the 60s, Columbus, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? Authentic settings? The passage of the decades? The musical score?

3. The title, the relationship between grandfather and grandson, when the boy was little and being looked after, at the university when the grandfather moved in, ultimately the doctor with his grandfather and the grandchildren? The overtones of the title and roommates?

4. The overview by Michael, his father and Vietnam, his mother's death and the grief? The rest of the family not able to take him in? His grandfather taking him? The bonds between Michael and Rocky, their shared experience? Michael's perspective when he grew up, becoming a doctor? Wanting to go to Pittsburgh, to do his internship, his taking his grandfather with him? The tensions in Pittsburgh? The further passing of time, Michael's marriage, the children, the antagonism from Rocky? The death of Beth? The grandfather wanting to do his best, Judith and her wanting the children? Peace being made and the final years before Rocky's death?


5. Peter Falk's performance as Rocky, the explanation of his migrating in the 19th century, given his name at Ellis Island, settling with his parents, becoming a baker? His love for his wife? His son's death? His caring for Michael, sharing things together? His continuing his work? His pride in Michael being a doctor? Michael and his living with him, bringing him in as a roommate to the university? Rocky and his instant disapproval of Beth, dislike of her, her visits, playing gin rummy, his accommodating to her? When Michael did not propose his engineering the proposal? His pride in his grandchildren? His staying away, Beth's death? Judith's interventions? Rocky and his schemes to save the children, taking them to their mother's grave? The confrontation with Michael in the cemetery? His final years, his death and the reconciliation in the hospital? (The Oscar-nominated make-up for Peter Falk's age?)

6. The character of Michael, the effect of his being an orphan, as a boy with his grandfather? His other relations, the gatherings? His work as a doctor, his decisions in the operating room? His bedside manner and Beth's criticism? Their meeting, his being attracted to her, improving his manner, meeting her mother, saving Beth from having dinner with her mother? Their time together, dancing, going back to the room, Rocky's disapproval? The meal, the antagonism with Rocky? His decision to take the internship, his not proposing to Beth, Rocky and his intervention? The wedding? The years passing, the children? His happy life? His concern about his grandfather, the years away, seeing him spoiling the television cooking show? Bringing him to his house? The death? His looking after the children, Michael and his going to pieces, his drinking, crashing the car? His seeming neglect of his children? Judith and her wanting to take them on a holiday, her threat of intervention? Pulling himself together? Rocky's death?

7. Beth, her bedside manner, help with the patient, criticism of Michael, their going out, the attraction, her mother? The fights with Rocky, her winning him over? Her children, her happy life, her death? Her mother and her snobbery, remarrying? Wealth? Wanting to take the children, seeing Michael drunk, threatening to take them to court?

8. A portrait of a family?