HEARTBURN

US, 1986, 109 minutes, Colour.
Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Steven Hill, Richard Masur, Stockard Channing, Milos Forman, Jeff Daniels, Maureen Stapleton, Catherine O'Hara, Mercedes Ruehl.
Directed by Mike Nichols.

Heartburn is an excellent bitter-sweet domestic comedy. It was written for the screen by Norah Ephron (Silkwood), based on her novel - in turn based-on her experiences with her husband Carl Bernstein (of Watergate fame). The film was directed by Mike Nicholls (Virginia Woolf, The Graduate, Catch 22, Silkwood).

The film is another star vehicle for Meryl Streep. She again gives a faultless performance. She is well matched by Jack Nicholson in the unsympathetic role of the husband. There is entertaining support from a cast led by Stockard Channing.

The film has the atmosphere of the '80s, a move towards marriage commitment yet the continued reality of infidelity and divorce. The film has a great deal of humour - but, with the break-up of the marriage, a sad ending. The film evokes responses to what might have been...

The film is well produced, photography is by Nestor Almendros, music by Carly Simon including the engaging theme song and the fable of the 'Itsy Bitsy. Spider'.

1. The impact of this romantic comedy? Bitter-sweet? A contemporary fable about marriage?

2. Norah Ephron and her experience; marriage and divorce, betrayal? Screenwriter?

3. Washington and New York locations? The urban '80s? Authentic? Audiences interested in and identifying with this world? Carly Simon's score? Old romantic favourites? The modern beat? The final song and the Itsy Bitsy Spider?

4. The quality cast, performances? Comedy pace and style? Editing and comic pace?

5. The focus on marriage: the initial encounter of Rachel and Mark, the marriage ceremony and their presence, Rachel's inquiries about Mark, the ceremony itself, the reception, their meeting, the flurry to go off, Mark's reputation. the evening together. Rachel cooking the spaghetti - the comment about marriage? Enough to give the credibility to their getting married? The wedding sequence. Rachel's nerves, remarks about failed marriages, the various guests and family trying to persuade her, the ceremony itself? Mark's influence, the pledge of marriage, exchange of rings? The beginnings of a happy marriage?

6. The basis of the marriage? Who loved whom? Washington, the home, the fire, the comedy about the repairs? Social outings, Rachel bored and humiliated? Mark and his taking incidents for his columns? The friendship of Julie and Art? Betty and her gossip? Dimitri and his friendship? The social round and life in Washington?

7. Rachel's pregnancy, the comic bravura of the singing of the baby songs, Mark's rendition of My Boy Bill? Happiness, tension, the meal and Rachel going to hospital, the caesarean birth, the joy of the baby? Her wanting to remember this and hear it from Mark at the birth of the second child?

8. Tension in the marriage, Rachel treating Mark as a mother and telling him off at the picnic, the gossiping and the talk about affairs? The dinner with the list of five qualities and the revelation of each character? Rachel at the hairdresser's, the gossip about the break-up and her realisation of what had happened? Searching Mark's desk, the confrontation, his not being able to handle it? Her going to New York with Annie? Going to her father's place, his genial response but inability to help her? Her waiting for Mark's phone call? The maid and the child - the comic sequences, her telling her friend that her mother had died, the bouquet? Mark's arrival, the disappearance of the ring? The reconciliation?

9. Forgiving and forgetting? The return, the collapse of the marriage? Rachel's pregnancy, fears, her phone call with Julie (and the humorous interchange of her spying on Mark and his comment on her excellent meals)? Her grief and the humorous television programme with the British commentator telling her about what was happening? The birth of the baby, her joy? The affair, her putting it about that Thelma had herpes? The ring and the necklace? The final declaration at Betty's party, her leaving?

10. The portrait of Rachel? Meryl Streep and her presence, comic timing, mime? Clowning? Background of her work, type, her first marriage and the story of her adolescent husband, searching out Mark, the evening with him, cooking? Her nerves, her sister and father, friends trying to persuade her? Relationship with Vera and the background of the group? The marriage itself and her declaration of love? The house, the difficulties of building? Her love and contentment with her life? Pregnant, the songs about babies? The picnic and her talking to Mark as a child? The birth, the joy at her child? The hairdresser's, the discovery of the truth, her grief and not wanting it to happen to her? To New York, to her father and his lack of help, the editor and her going back to work? The subway and the thief, the robbery of the group? Vera, her support, the interest of the group? The decision to return with Mark? The regular round, tensions, her malice against Thelma and the talk of the infection? The birth of the baby and the remembrance of the past? The visits to the hospital? Friends, her work? The return of the ring, the truth about the necklace? Her final declaration at the party - about not being aware of what was going on? The pie in Mark's face? Taking Annie and the baby? Her tenderness towards her children, the final song?

11. The portrait of Mark and Jack Nicholson's presence, comic style? Sympathy and lack of sympathy? His work, enjoying life, his love for Rachel? Home, outings? The exhilaration about the baby, his rendition of 'My Boy Bill'? His not wanting to be mothered? His helping with the birth of the child? The relationship with Thelma? The truth and his inability to face Rachel? His going to New York, plea for her to come back? Not being able to change? Outings, tension, Thelma and the herpes, the truth about the necklace? The pie in the face?

12. Julie and Art, their friendships, sharing, Julie and her story of Art's affair? A mirror of Rachel and Mark?

13. Vera and her friendship, support, psychology, the group, group behaviour, the robbery?

14. Rachel's father his support, out with the woman at Atlantic City, his friendship but inability to help?

15. Betty, gossip, Dimitri? Hosting the final party and her putting her foot in it?

16. The background of Washington, gossip, New York? Different ways of life?

17. Contemporary marriage, love, fidelity, infidelity, betrayal, children?