HOPE SPRINGS
UK, 2002, 92 minutes, Colour.
Colin Firth, Heather Graham, Minnie Driver, Mary Steenburgen, Frank Collison, Oliver Platt.
Directed by Mark Herman.
A light and slight romantic comedy. Poor Colin firth travels from London to the town of Hope in New England to get away from a failed relationship and get over his depression. Eventually, he does with the help of a 'people carer' (Heather Graham) with whom he falls in love and the help of the townsfolk who are initially curious but, when he sketches portraits of them for an exhibition, are very supportive. Then his ex (Minnie Driver) turns up, rather cold and caustic and the expected complications arise. Will he go back to her? Will the carer find out? What lies will he tell to cover himself? How will he reconcile with the carer who finds out that he has lied?
This is a British production (with some wry comments about how the Americans see the British and vice versa) but it gives the impression of being just another romantic comedy, pleasant, a bit obvious, showing emotional tangles and opting for commitment and a happy ending.
1. The work of Mark Herman, his observation of characters in small-town settings , relationships, regrets, memories of the past, new beginnings?
2. The New England settings (mainly from Canada), the town, its homeliness, architecture, sense of history? The autumnal beauty of the trees? The musical score, the range of songs?
3. The title, the town and Colin's hope for the future, his choice of the town? The waterfall? The meetings between Colin and Mandy at the springs?
4. The relationships, being taken for granted, break-ups, depression? Caregivers and new beginnings, falling in love? The irony of Vera playing the trick, Colin playing the trick on her? And the final attempt at a trick on Mandy?
5. The introduction to Colin: on the plane, weary, the long bus trip, the arrival, buying the art works, being misunderstood by the Americans, their curiosity? His going to the hotel, meeting Joanie, her welcome, collapsing? Mandy coming to help? His response to her, bewilderment? Going out with her, her drinking, the rain, returning to the motel, her nakedness, her attitude, joy, sexuality, innocence? Colin and his beginning to change, their meetings? The ups and downs of the relationship, his telling her all about Vera? And its going around the town? The importance of his sketching the various people, his sketching of Fisher, their discussions? Going around the town and meeting people? His meeting Doug Reed, Doug's request of a proper portrait? His recognising the face document on the wall? Vera's arrival, her imposing herself, his response? Mandy and her misunderstandings? His pretending that Vera had left, the phone call? Many seeing him with Vera in her underwear, outside in the street after the fire alarm? His having to face the truth? Her anger with him, not wanting to see him again? His discussion about the passport? His dinner with Vera, the false family tree and his deceiving her? The phone call, his return, the pretence of having a cousin, meeting Mandy at Hope Springs, literally carrying her back? A future?
6. Mandy, her bad experiences, a caregiver, her working with the elderly people and her care for them? Trying to help Colin and his imagining a happy place? Listening to the story about Vera? Going out with him, the drinking, the nudity, joy, freedom, sexuality? The build-up of their relationship? Her work at home, her reaction to Vera's arrival, the clash between the two, the discussion in the car? Her thinking that Vera had gone back to England, seeing her again, confronting Colin? Not wanting to see him again? At the celebration, with the old people, Joanie's message, going to meet Colin, his carrying her back? The irony of the final scene with his bad back?
7. Vera, the long relationship, the engagement, the effect on Colin? Her arrival, her manner, cold, demanding, her caustic remarks? The truth about the invitation, her wanting to resume the relationship? The meeting with Mandy and her attitude? Not going, continuing to see Colin, trying to be seductive? Colin and the deception, her believing the family tree? Her becoming the queen of the celebration, dancing with Doug - a possible future in Hope?
8. Joanie and her genial running of the motel, helping out Colin, friendship with Mandy? Her loving relationship with Fisher? Her helping at the end, trying to get Vera to sign the book and so avoid going to Colin's room ( with the assistant giving the plot away all the time)? Fisher, his face, friendship, listening, helping out?
9. Doug Reed as the mayor, ambitious, pompous, comic? Fake documents? Promoting the mineral water? The plans for the celebration, his portrait, faking the genealogy? Introducing Vera as the queen, dancing with her?
10. The people in the town, especially the people in the shop and their curiosity, the people in the café? The atmosphere of the small town?
11. A slight and light comedy? Obvious about relationships? Relying of the personality of the cast, the good humour of the screenplay, its essential romanticism?
