WRESTLING ERNEST HEMINGWAY
US, 1993, 123 minutes, Colour
Robert Duvall, Richard Harris, Shirley Mac Laine, Sandra Bullock, Piper Laurie, Michol Mercurio.
Directed by Randa Haynes.
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway is a very engaging film about older people. Robert Duvall excels as a Latin American barber, a fussy single man who is disguised for viewers with a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses. In contrast is Richard Harris, weatherbeaten but lean, formerly a captain of a ship who lives in retirement. His landlady is played in a more supporting role by Shirley Mac Laine. The film is also an early vehicle for Sandra Bullock, just as she was emerging to become a major star. She gives a typically sympathetic performance as a waitress in a diner. Piper Laurie has a good role as an elderly lady who goes regularly to the cinema, and is continually bothered by Richard Harris.
The story is quite simple, the two different men have a chance encounter in a park, are wary of each other, become friends, quarrel often enough, are reconciled in the end as one of them dies. Part of their day is to go to the diner and get a sandwich, bad for Duvall’s health, served by Sandra Bullock in her section of the diner.
The film is strong on dialogue, lots of discussions between the central characters, highlighting the themes of age, loneliness, love, isolation. The film is basically one of friendships.
The film was directed by Randa Haynes, director of the sensitive telemovie Something About Amelia as well as such feature films as Children of a Lesser God and The Doctor.
1. The film as comic, serious? Sympathetic? Insight into characters? Friendship, age?
2. The title, Frank and his memories, the story of wrestling Ernest Hemingway, the spirit of Hemingway and his macho warrior style? The world of old movies screening at the local theatre? Part of the atmosphere?
3. Florida in the 1990s, retired people, the town, the sea, the parks, streets, restaurants, apartment blocks, homes? A sense of realism? The summer heat?
4. The introduction to Frank, the heat, his doing the exercises, naked, his age, grizzled? His past in the sea, his relationships with women, his wives? The end of his life? Retired? The clashes with Helen, about the heat, the airconditioning, his clothes?
5. The contrast with Walter, watching him in the distant window and his practising his dancing, Hispanic, his accent, age, living alone, his work as a barber? Prim in his manner, the regularity of the bacon sandwich, considerations of his health? His friendship with Elaine? His routine, going to the park, doing his puzzles?
6. Helen in the apartments, her living alone, the background of her marriage and divorce? The clashes with Frank? The airconditioning, his making demands at her door, the arguments? Fixing the airconditioning? Her mellowing? His approach to her, her resistance? His visits to her apartment, talking, drinking, the loneliness, the sexual encounter and the comfort, his death? The funeral arrangements with Walter?
7. Walter in the park, Frank and his Hemingway book - after spending the time in the bookshop and the airconditioning and being ousted by the manager? Talking with Walter, interrupting him, an intrusion, the effect on Walter, eyeing the sandwich? Frank with the little children and their mother, teaching them to dance? The two going to the diner, Elaine and her side, Bernice and her side? Walter wanting to sit in Elaine’s side, not wanting to be rude? Frank and his bravado, Walter reprimanding him for his language? Elaine nice to each of them? Their growing friendship, sharing discussions, the prospect of the dance, Frank and his job at the cinema, the bike ride to the fireworks, their clashes, Frank mocking Walter’s dancing, Frank giving him the bike to say goodbye to Elaine, the bad gift, his taking another gift? The fight, the reconciliation? Walter going to the apartment, finding Frank dead? Walter and his going to the dance, dancing with the ladies, an achievement and happiness? And his experience of friendship?
8. Frank and his getting a haircut, the shave from Walter? The suit, going to the theatre, losing his job? His harassing of Georgia?
9. Georgia, the retired lady, loving to go to the movies, her special seat, her reaction to Frank’s attentions, telling him to go away, finally resisting him?
10. Elaine, nice, with Walter at the bus stop, the other woman intruding? Her work as a waitress? Bernice and the friendship? Frank and his behaviour, patting the waitresses? Elaine and her marriage, touched by Walter’s visit and his gift?
11. The strength of the dialogue, the delineation of the characters? The charm of the film – and older people mellowing through contact and friendship?
