STEAMING

UK, 1985, 102 minutes, Colour.
Vanessa Redgrave, Diana Dors, Sarah Miles.
Directed by Joseph Losey.

Steaming is the screen version of Nell Dunn's very popular play. Nell Dunn was the author of Poor Cow, a popular film of the 60s with Carol White.

The film keeps the action to the baths in London where a group of women, representing a cross-section of London society, meet weekly to bathe, take the steam as well as talk and share their lives. This gives the opportunity for a great deal of comment about British society, the role of men and women, the aspirations of women. The film presents everything from the sensibility of women. The screenplay has been adapted by Joseph Losey's wife Patricia. Joseph Losey (The Boy with Green Hair and other films in the United States before being blacklisted, The Sleeping Tiger and other film-s in England before his emergence as a major director with The Servant, King and Country, Accident, his working in England and France during the 70s, including such films as Don Giovanni: this was his last film as director.

The cast is very good indeed, led by Vanessa Redgrave. It was also Diana Dors’ last film.

The film rearranges scenes from the play - and audiences who had admired the play were not pleased with the film.
They felt that it lost its direct impact, lost a great deal of its humour. However, as a film it has a lot to offer in terms of raising consciousness about women's issues.

1. A play into film? The success and reputation of the play? Adaptation for the screen? The remaining within the baths location? The speeches? interactions?

2. The baths as a location: interiors, the style of the building and arches, areas and their uses, the steps, the rooms, the pool? The baths as a significant place? The editing of the film, pace, action, close-ups and profiles, speeches? the musical score, the instrumental work, mood?

3. The British focus of the film? London and London women? Manner, style, interests, accents, variety of classes, careers and opportunities? A significant cross-section of women?

4. Steaming as a women's film: women's sensibilities, experiences, outlooks, lives, careers, potential and possibilities? The women in themselves, their styles, interests, emotions, relationships? Sexuality? Freedom, sharing, being natural with one another, the variety of moods, the frankness and nudity of the baths? Relationship with men, attitude towards men, being moulded by them, victimised? Talking about them? Dependent and independent? Husbands? Lawyers? Maintenance? the film as an example of woman talk, women's issues, anger, speaking out?

5. The portrait of Vi - in the place, her work? Diana Dors and her past image? Her final film? Her attachment to the place, working for 18 years? The tender phone calls to her husband? Josie's initial intrusion and her patient listening, care, advice? A friendly woman? Seeing her at work, her involvement in the issues, the closing down of the baths, her sadness, the co-operation of the women, their working together? The celebration of success?

6. Josie and the initial intrusion, her emotionalism, erratic behaviour, outburst, her experience, the lover at home, the violence? Her need for excitement and reaction against boredom? Vi’s listening and advice? Her later visits and the progress of her relationships? Reconciliation and yet being abused and hit? Her visits to the baths, Her motives, her ups and downs? Her reaction to each of the characters? Her feeling put-down, her outburst against Nancy and her view of life and attitudes, against Sarah? Her realising that she had been too angry? The truth spoken in anger? Her capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness? The closing down of the baths, her rising to the occasion, becoming involved, taking on the task of speaking out, the acclaim of the women, her rehearsal about her speeches, dressing herself up and making herself presentable? Her achievement in speaking? A victim yet an achiever?

7. Vanessa Redgrave as Nancy - her appearance, height, manner of speaking? Her background? Proper, limited experience? Her getting in touch with Sarah and going to the baths? Renewing friendship? A woman with a sense of decency, devotion to her husband, children? Her memories of her marriage? Her dependence? Helping her husband's career, friends being those of her husband? Her dependence? Her enjoying going to the baths, joking? Her modesty and not being nude? Her baring her life? Becoming attached to the baths? Exploring Sarah's life and their memories? Listening to Josie? Helping Dawn and her mother? Josie's outburst against her and the revelation of the limitedness of her life? Her interest in the campaign to save the baths, involvement? her changing? A new outlook, discussing this? Sharing the enjoyment of the achievement? Her entering the baths nude and its significance for her self-assertion and freedom?

8. Sarah as the successful career-woman, memories of school, the dizzy jet-set life, her memories of her husband and their relationship, his dominance, his abandoning her in Caracas? her marriage and its break-up? Her wanting to have children - and it being too late? Responding to Nancy’s invitation, enjoying her children? Her becoming a career-woman, and the story of the legal adviser saying that if she had been a man she would be a head of a corporation? Her study, hard work? Her freedom, friendship, Josie's attack and her response? Participation in the campaign, the money for legal consultations, her legal ingenuity and help? her freedom and exhilaration in the achievement and the celebration?

9. Dawn and her mother? The old woman as old-fashioned, ill, her home and its lack of comforts, conservative attitudes, socialising at the baths? Protective of her slow-witted daughter? illness, lying down? Gradual shifts because of the friendship of the women? Her not being caught up in the feminist stances - but in her heart sharing them? Dawn and her slowness, devotion to her mother, her continual comments about eating and meals, her modesty? Her being upset at the news shout the closing of the baths, her screams and tantrum? Involvement in the campaign, coming alive, painting herself, her nudity, the achievement - and her development?

10. Celia and her place in the baths, her work, the massage and cashing, her helping, listening to the women, her achievement, racial background, one with the women at the baths?

11. The glimpse of the clients, the steaming, the showers, the massage, their chit-chat?

12. The cause of the baths - as an institution, its social role, the fight for keeping it, the posters and the T-shirts, Josie's speech, the achievement and success? celebration?

13. A film of women's issues, the intentions? How persuasive? A focus on people, their humanity? Entertainment? learning experience?