HAIR

US, 1979, 121 minutes, Colour.
John Savage, Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo, Annie Golden, Dorsey Wright, Cheryl Barnes, Richard Bright, Nicholas Ray.
Directed by Milos Forman.

Hair is exuberant protest viewed in the light of experience - a reminder of what the 'sixties were like and an affirmation of so many of the issues. However, the late 'seventies U.S. Vietnam-consciousness is to the fore (with an ending strongly parallel to Deer Hunter, highlighted by John Savage's presence). The means stronger impact for Americans than for ourselves. The film is beautifully and inventively photographed; songs, familiar and unfamiliar, convey moods and points (the daring of mouthing words and sentiments in the Lenny Bruce vein so much more commonplace now). A colourful variation on American nostalgia and conscience examination (directed by Czech ex-patriot Milos Forman, Taking Off, Cuckoo's Nest).

1. An attractive and enjoyable film? Why an American success in 1979? Less successful for non-American audiences? Its atmosphere, style? Issues? The contrast of American outlook in '69 and '79? The original in the midst of protest of the late '60s and an uncertain future? 1979 and the wisdom of retrospection?

2. The film's attitudes towards the '60s? Benign, humour, nostalgia? The affirmation of the basic issues of protest, the reflection on freedom and the protest for freedom, memories of the Flower People? The attitude towards wealth,, snobbery? The retrospect on drugs? The retrospect on Vietnam?

3. The American origins of the stage play, the film? The Czech director and his insight into the American situation?

4. The impact of the music, the lyrics? The lasting value of the music? The consideration of the songs: 'Aquarius', 'Coloured Spade', 'Ain't Got No', 'Black Boys', 'White Boys', 'Electric Blues', 'Old Fashioned Melody', 'Flesh Departures', '3-5-0-0', 'Somebody to Hold', 'Sodomy', 'Donna', 'Hashish', 'Manchester', 'Abie Baby', 'Fourscore', 'I'm Black', 'Air', 'Party Music', 'My Conviction', 'I Got Life', 'Hair', 'L.B.J.1, 'Hare Krishna', 'Where Do I Go?', 'Walking In Space', 'Easy to be Hard', 'Good Morning Star shine', 'What a Piece of Work is Man',, 'Somebody to Love', 'Don't Put It Down', 'Let the Sunshine In'?

5. The use of the songs, their insertion into the screenplay, their illustration of character, of plot, theme? The various singers who presented the songs? The ensemble? The mood of the songs, especially of the '60s? Their social and personal comment? America in the '60s? Comment on the visual styles of the choreography -especially the opening in Central Park for 'Aquarius', Claude's imaginary wedding and the church sequence? The various tableaux e.g. with the army training? The moving style of the camera?


6. The opening in Oklahoma and the reference to social films in the American tradition, the Mid-West? and the average American? The echoes of the old style American and cowboy and the contrast with the '60s? The changing of the American type? The introduction to Claude, his Polish background, the farm, horses,, the farewell to his father, the money, the bus ride and the journeying through America? The overtones of Midnight Cowboy moving towards New York? The various landscapes, the world opening up to Claude? Indication that change was to come? The experience of the average American, the judgments that he brought to the situation, the change of feeling? Claude as the 'every American?

7. The introduction to Berger and company? 'Aquarius', their place in Central Park, their freedom, clothes, hair? (The irony of the later meeting with Berger's parents, the conventional background, Lafayette's child and his girlfriend etc.)? Jeanie and her baby? The world of the dropout, the gentle flower people? A memory of a real past, fantasy? The nature of freedom? Their begging from Claude and his reaction, the hiring of the horse, the ride, urging Claude on to chase the horsewomen? Their advice for Claude's seeing New York, their introducing him to drugs? The bench sequence and the night passing and the hallucinatory nature of drugs?

8. The contrast of Sheila and her girlfriends on the horses? The presentation of American wealth and the attack on it? Claude and his showing off his riding ability? His fascination with Sheila? The irony of Berger urinating and discovering their address? The gatecrashing of the party, the contrast of the clothes, the slinging and slanging matches with the guests, Sheila's boyfriend and his weak acceptance of them? The build-up to the clash and Berger's singing 'I Got Life'? The dance on the table, the fat lady in pink and her sharing in it? Sheila's parents and their reaction? Sheila as another symbol of young America? The importance of her trying the drugs with her girlfriends before the party? Her fascination with Berger and his freedom? Her liking for Claude? Her daring, experience, change?

9. The arrest and its repercussions, Claude and the party in jail and the need to get out? Berger's deal with the money? The challenge to Sheila and her boyfriend, taking the car? The irony of Berger and the encounter with his parents? His nonchalant father, the dominant mother and her giving him the money? Their freedom? The importance of the swim in the park, the taking of the clothes, Sheila going home in the taxi? Their later seeking Sheila out and inviting her to Nevada?

10. Berger and his vitality, what he represented, the drug scene, the flower people, his enjoyment of life, his being at home, his goals, his generosity in going to Nevada to see Claude?

11. Jeanie and her love for the various members of the group, her vitality and kindness? Woof, Lafayette? How well did the group work together? As illustrated in the songs?

12. The transition to Nevada, Claude's decision definitely to go, the mocking of the army? The hair sequence and the humour of the symbol of hair? The changing seriousness with the Nevada sequences? The training? Songs? The American involvement in the war and the comment via songs? Claude at the camp, Berger and his devices, Sheila and her getting the uniform, the substitution of Berger, the backfiring of the joke and the lyricism of the picnic, the seriousness of Berger's death? The film's comment on the war?

13. Claude as representing the volunteers going to Vietnam? Surviving? The memories of the '60s and the effect in the '70s?

14. The humour of the recruitment, the examination, the nudity and white boys and black boys and the mocking of the board?

15. The hard training - anti-war, pro-war, the effectiveness of the collage?

16. The reality of Vietnam with the troops moving out, Berger going to war and the song? The final tribute at the graveside?

17. The theme of the American city and its way of life contrasting with the countryside and its way of life? The road, Nevada?

18. The contrast of groups in society, wealth differences etc? The critique?

19. The presuppositions of the film about the freedom and the liberation of the dropouts of the time? How was this recapitulated in the final song and the many groups in Central Park? What did the film end with?

20. The film as made in the '70s, the wisdom of hindsight?