HEAD OVER HEELS (CHILLY SCENES OF WINTER)

US, 1980, 97 minutes, Colour.
John Heard, Mary Beth Hurt, Peter Reigert, Kenneth McMillan?, Gloria Grahame.
Directed by Joan Micklin Silver.

Head Over Heels (Chilly Scenes of Winter) is an early film by Joan Micklin Silver, after Hester Street and Between the Lines. It is a focus on relationships, and seems authentic enough with strong performances by John Heard and Mary Beth Hurt. Gloria Graham appears as John Heard's mother. Joan Micklin Silver focuses on details of character and close analysis of relationships. This film, in the vein of the 1970s, raises more questions than it offers answers.

1. An enjoyable romantic comedy? Tradition of the '30s and '40s screwball comedy? Modest budget, non-stars? Insight into marriage, love? A piece of Americana?

2. The Utah settings? Salt Lake City: offices, suburbs, the seasons? The feel of the '70s? Musical score? Songs?

3. The playfulness of the title? The contrast with the original novel's title: Chill Winds of August? How did the film combine the tones of both titles?

4. The focus on Charlie? John Heard's presence and his carrying the film? our being introduced to him and his dialogue with the imaginary Laura in the car? His moodiness, eccentricity of outlook and manner? The impact of his confiding in the audience? iris living in the present - and reverting to the past? An American romantic hero - satirised? In himself: at home, relationship with his family, at work? The strengths of his relationships? His obsession with Laura? His following her, spying on her, looking at her home. building the model home etc.? The goal of winning her back?

5. The film's use of time: the progress in the present of Charlie's wanting to win Laura back? The parallel with his memories of their relationship and its break-up? The build-up to the final challenge to Laura? Her rejection? His coping? The happy ending?

6. Charlie as a genial man? His friendly relationship with his sister? Going to look at Laura's house with her? The humorous interlude of her pedantic friend? His friendship with Sam. sharing the apartment, knowing each other for so many years? The humour of their going together to Laura's husband and his thinking they were gay? His relationship with his mother - her phone calls and his not listening. having to rescue her from her would-be suicide attempts in the bath, going to visit her at home and her not preparing a meal, her behaviour in the hospital? The clash with Pete but his growing friendliness with him e.g. the car shampoo, dance lessons? Seeing him at work and his explanation of his job - listening to the cassettes, making reports? Patterson relying on him for advice about his son - the Janis Joplin record? Betty and her devotion? The continued interludes with the blind sweets-seller downstairs and Charlie's not telling him what he was buying? The change at the end?

7. The change in Charlie throughout the film: his growth in understanding, his understanding his pressure on Laura, his love for her? The audience understanding his oddball style, his languishing, haunting Laura, his obsession? His final acceptance of her rejection? A happy future?

8. How attractive a character was Laura? In herself, at work, her verbal fencing with Charlie? The outings? Shared talk, friendship? The sexual relationship? Charlie's putting pressure on her? Her confusion? Low opinion of herself? The reasons for her marriage, her leaving her husband? Her step-daughter? The continued friendship with Betty and Charlie finding out from Betty about Laura? Her life with her husband at how? Charlie's crashing into the tree? His confronting her at home? Her leaving again? His visit to the apartment? Her decision not to go with him? The credibility of her change of mind and heart? A credible heroine? Charm? Confusion? Humorous touch?

9. Sam as Charlie's friend - no job, lifestyle, meals, the buying of the wine, the outings, the visit to Jim about the house, the outing with Betty? Good friendship - even to visiting Charlie's mother?

10. Charlie's sister and their talk together, her understanding him, wanting him to stop watching Laura's house? Her boyfriend? Charlie's mother and her memories, her madness? Her behaviour at home, the bath scenes, in the hospital and the woman in the other bed? Pete and his friendship, devotion to his wife, wanting to look after her?

11. Betty and the satire on the devoted secretary? Her infatuation with Charlie? Typing, the planning of the party and the detail she went into? His rejecting her and her upset? The dinner and her outing with Sam? more than an object of satire?

12. Patterson and the satire on the business executive, his son and the record, his being told off by Charlie?

13. Laura's husband and his daughter? Seeing him at home, the crash, the house design and his wanting to sell the house to Charlie and Sam? His impression that they were gay? The clash with Charlie? Laura's leaving him again?

14. A glimpse at modern life and pressures: work, recreation, pressures, identity, relationships?

15. A satisfying blend of charm and insight?