CIRCLE OF TWO
Canada, 1980, 108 minutes, Colour.
Richard Burton, Tatum O'Neill, Robin Gammel, Michael Wincott, Kate Reid.
Directed by Jules Dassin.
Circle of Two is a mild Canadian romance. It shows the infatuation of a teenage girl with a celebrated artist and his reliance on her for regaining his inspiration and coming back to work.
Though the themes are fairly commonplace, the film is of interest because of its being directed by Jules Dassin, the blacklisted American director who made such interesting films as The Naked City, Rififi, Never on Sunday, Topkapi. It is also of interest because of the starring of Richard Burton with Tatum O'Neal. Burton gives another of his world-weary, sorrowful performances. Tatum O'Neal is pleasantly brash - but not much more. She doesn't show the potential that she had as a younger child in such films as Paper Moon.
1. An interesting human study, bittersweet romance, infatuation?
2. The work of Jules Dassin and his career? Canadian production? Moderate success?
3. Contemporary settings: Toronto, the city, family life, the artist and the gallery, studio? The use of Toronto locations and an atmosphere of authenticity?
4. The title and its focus? The credibility of the relationship: the fact, psychological credibility, the experience for Ashley, for Sarah?
5. Themes of love, romance, needs? The old man, burnt-out, uninspired? New inspiration, tenderness and care? The adolescent, her virginity, fending off a brash boy? Attracted towards a gentleman, experience? Ability? The hurt in the relationship and its break? The growing experience for both?
6. Tatum O'Neal's portrait of Sarah: 15, her life at home, her relationship with her parents? Love in the family, strictness, discipline from her parents? Her friends, riding the bikes, school? Paul and his pushiness? The ordinary way of life, the girls' chatter, bets, going to the X-rated movie and talking about it? Ashley saving her from Paul finding her? Her talk with Ashley in the cinema, in the cafe? The bond between the two, her telling her life, their going out. influencing Ashley, the buying of the hat, posing for the portrait, her offer to pose nude? The effect on her? Romanticising the platonic relationship? Sharing, falling in love, the question of her virginity? offering herself to Ashley? The jealousy of Claudia? Paul and his chasing her through the field, the attempted rape? The hospital sequence? The discussions between Ashley and her parents? Her parents locking her up? The doctor and her advice, the birthday party, going to New York, waiting for Ashley? Claudia? The break? The painfulness yet growing up? The finale with her graduation and her memory of the experience?
7. Richard Burton's portrait of Ashley: 60 years old, career, burnt-out? Asleep in the porno cinema? Meeting Sarah again, helping her with Paul, the sharing of memories, stories? His being enchanted by her, going out with her. jogging, working, talking, the portrait, destroying one yet moving on to another, the effect of the relationship on him? His seeing of the old man and painting him? The buying of the hat? The memory of the relationship with Claudia. her loyalty to him in difficult times contrasting with that of the gallery manager? Paul and the hospital sequence? Sarah's father shutting the door in his face? His walking out, going to New York, the showdown with the gallery manager, the self-assertion, not wanting a retrospective of his work? Encountering Sarah, the finale, sending her back to her life? The effect on him? (And the irony of Richard Burton's own life, and his death soon after making this film)?
8. Paul, jealousy, chasing Sarah, drugs, the attempted rape, his parents away in Europe?
9. The sketch of Sarah's girlfriends, schoolgirl activities, chatter, birthday parties etc.?
10. Sarah's parents, their way of life, relationship with their daughter, strictness, locking her up, the birthday party, reaction against Ashley?
11. The doctor and her matter-of-fact style, advice to Sarah?
12. Claudia and her loyalty, help, jealousy of Sarah? The gallery director and his fickle friendship?
13. The portrait of an artist, the painting, studio, inspiration, the portrait of Sarah, the old man?
14. Details of city life and atmosphere, the frankness of style in the portrait of the romance?
15. Themes of contemporary love, relationships, friendship, sexual relationships, platonic relationships? Growth through experience?
