THE ROOMMATE
US, 1984, 96 minutes, Colour.
Lance Guest, Barry Miller.
Directed by Neil Cox.
The Roommate is a Public Broadcasting Service American Playhouse presentation and is based on a story by novelist John Updike. It is set in 1952 at North- Western University, the contrast between a very proper student played by Lance Guest, and a politically conscious eccentric student played by Barry Miller (Fame, The Chosen).
The film is well-written, delineates its characters well, highlights the contrast between attitudes of right and left in the United States of the early '50s. The film highlights the interaction between the two and the changing of perspectives. However, there is a voice-over rueful conversation between the two during the final credits, indicating how far they had grown apart after their time at university.
1. Impact of the telemovie? For the Public Broadcasting Service audience? American audiences, overseas? Themes?
2. The evocation of the '50s, the small town and homes, the university, the campus, church? Musical score?
3. The title and its focus, the contrast between the two men, their background, life at university, interactions, dependence, emotional and intellectual changes? The significance of the final phone call, their subsequent careers, the distance between the two?
4. Orson as the ultra-straight type, his background, family, his father the doctor, dependent, religious, moral? His relationship with Emily, the sexual relationship? His beliefs, conservative style? The opportunity at the university, his settling in, as students, lifestyle? The return home, the meal, the fumbling encounter with Emily? His studies, sport, the visit to church?
5. The contrast with Hub, his background, his odd style and appearance, his causes, manner, conversation, meditation? Yet his capacity for understanding others, the student with the nervous breakdown and his care for him? Study, exams?
6. The interaction between the two, Orson and his complaints, the intolerance? Hub and his sincerity, friendship with Orson, knowing that he was better alone? His eccentric style? Orson and his disbelief, statements about Hub, to his family, to Emily, to the girlfriend on campus? His inability to understand?
7. The portrait of the group, interaction, behaviour, the situations? Taking sides?
8. The student with the breakdown, Hub and his help?
9. The girlfriend, relating to Hub, going out with Orson, the clash? Her indicating how Hub was hurt with Orson wanting to move rooms? Orson going into the other room, his decisions, not moving?
10. The aftermath and the phone calls, Hub and the range of his experience, missionary work, Africa, State Department? Orson and being a doctor, following his father's footsteps, marriage to Emily, divorce, the children? The more things change...?
