CROSS CREEK
US, 1983, 115 minutes, Colour.
Mary Steenburgen, Rip Torn, Peter Coyote, Alfre Woodard, Malcolm McDowell?.
Directed by Martin Ritt.
Cross Creek is a very attractive film. directed by Martin Ritt (a range of films including Hud, Hombre, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Sounder). It is based on the memoirs of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marjorie Kinnon Rawlings, best known for her novel, The Yearling.
Mary Steenburgen won an Oscar nomination for her role as Marjorie Kinnon Rawlings and is excellent. A strong woman, ambitious to be an author, going to Florida and establishing a lifestyle and career--in Cross Creek as well as relating beautifully to the people of the area and to nature, she becomes a successful writer by writing stories close to her rather than artificial novels (Mary Steenburgen's husband, Malcolm McDowell?, appears in the guest role of Max, her publisher.)
Rip Torn has an excellent role as Marsh Tucker, a local farmer, and Alfre Woodard is also very good as Marjorie's assistant, maid, friend. Both received Oscar nominations.
The locations are beautifully photographed, an atmosphere of the beauty of nature in Florida. The detail of the way of life is created, taking cues from Marjorie Rawlings' memoirs as well as the stories that she wrote.
1. A piece of Americana, memoir, life in Florida?
2. The New York opening, the atmosphere of the '20s? The contrast with Florida in the '20s and '30s, the small quiet town, the environment, Cross Creek, the water, the grove, the homes? Atmosphere? The atmospheric musical score?
3. Audience knowledge of Marjorie Kinnon Rawlings: her work, Pulitzer Prize, The Yearling and the film version? As woman, as author?
4. Her memoirs, her perspective, the bases for her novels and short stories?
5. Her ambitions to write, the Gothic popular novels, her marriage, its collapse, her husband unable to support her, a woman of the '20s making a break, making a decision and going to the south? As a strong-minded character? Driving the car, the breakdown, arrival? Wanting to get a taxi, Baskin driving her to the house, the house and the set-up, her establishing her programme for writing? Geechee and her arrival, her persuasive plea to work for Marjorie? The bond between the two, black and white, mistress and maid, friend and protector? Her work? The encounter with Marsh Tucker and Ellie, the bonds, the attraction towards the family? The little deer, its growing older? The invitation to the pound party and her bringing the cake? Mrs Tucker and her genteel manners, out of this world? The little children and their performances? Getting to know the family and liking them? The friendship with Baskin, talking to him, the bond between the two, his admiration, getting her the car, the relationship, her not loving him? Going to see Paul and his work in the grove? The young couple, the man's silence, the pregnant wife, the water, singing 'Jacob's Well? The basis for The Yearling? The young deer growing up? Personal frustration, the drought, working at the dam? Geechee and the request for the letter about Leroy and his coming? His loafing around, Marjorie talking to him, Geechee feeling that she had to go, her stand-up argument about not going, for Marjorie to request her not to go and almost losing her? Ellie's birthday, the cake, the deer and the trouble with the vegetables? The decision to get rid of the deer, Ellie's refusing to shoot it? Her father shooting it? her expressions of hatred and anger for him, to Marjorie? The death of Marsh? The funeral? Baskin and his proposal of marriage? Max's letter, encouraging her to write about the local stories, the time given to Jacob's Well? Her fear that it wouldn't be accepted? Max's arrival, her success? The drought, her feeling alienated, the frost and the fire, everybody working? The reconciliation with Ellie, the acceptance of Baskin's proposal? Her feeling at home, her future? Portrait of an American woman?
6. Marsh and his personality and style, in the swamps, the poor family, hospitable, talking, Ellie and her attraction towards Marjorie, Marsh taking her to see Paul and his working in the grove? The pound party and the children, the pathos of their performances, their hunger? Mrs Tucker and her beautiful manner, her withdrawing from the reality of the world? The birthday party, the cake, the deer, the upset, the shooting? Ellie and her outburst, her father hurt, his drinking, the sheriff wanting his gun, his being shot? The tributes to him?
7. Ellie and her age, by herself and lonely, the children at home, her being the oldest, the cake, the deer and its being a pet, her father's concessions, his having to take a stand, her anger, the pathos of his death, her anger with Marjorie, the reconciliation?
8. Baskin as a genial man, his helping, the visits, sharing life with Marjorie, reading the story, the proposal?
9. Max and his help, his not liking the Gothic novels, writing the letter, encouraging her to write what she saw and felt, the visit, the acceptance of the story ?
10. Paul and his work, the young couple living in the forest, pregnant, the water?
11. The portrait of a woman in the '20s, determined, the inner drive to write, the advice that she received, Geechee's lesson, feeling at home with the people, writing from her heart?
12. The importance of the finale and the meditative look at the beauty of Cross Creek, the world of Cross Creek?
