_THE LONG WALK HOME__

US, 1989, 95 minutes, Colour.
Whoopi Goldberg, Sissy Spacek, Dwight Schultz, Ving Rhames, Dylan Baker.
Directed by Richard Pearce.

The Long Walk Home is a moving film about a historical incident: the bus strike and integration of the buses in Montgomery, Alabama, in the mid-'50s. The film is a serious look at race relationships, a critique of the attitudes of the past, offering hope for bonds between black and white.

The film focuses on a wealthy family, with Sissy Spacek as the wife and mother, Dwight Schultz as the father. The women in Montgomery live an affluent life, busy about their social life and domestic life, not questioning and relying on their black servants. The black servants' work in the white homes, are treated as servants and beneath the whites. They go home to their own neighbourhoods. With the picketing of the buses, many of the servants had to walk to work - there were reactions in the city, meetings, violence and brutality. However, the buses were finally integrated.

Sissy Spacek is very good as the wife. However, the film belongs to Whoopi Goldberg who is at her dignified best as the middle-aged servant with her own family. Her performance is reminiscent of The Colour Purple and Clara's Heart, Corinna Corinna - rather than her comedy turns in such films as Ghost and Sister Act.

The film was directed by Richard Pearce, who has made a number of social-minded films, for example Heartland, as well as thrillers like No Mercy.

1.The impact of the film? For American audiences? Overseas audiences? How moving?

2.Montgomery and the state of Alabama in the '50s? The world of the affluent whites, their homes, social occasions? The world of the blacks, their homes, neighbourhood? The musical score? The use of songs, especially the religious songs sung by black Americans?

3.The historical basis, the truth of the film? The perspective of the '90s on the '50s? Able to assess and incorporate the drama of the changes? The importance of Martin Luther King, his presence in the background of the film? His arrest?

4.The voice-over and the daughter of the house reminiscing about her childhood, relationship with her family, with Odessa? Her assessment of the social change?

5.American racism, attitudes, language, behaviour, violence? White insecurity? Treatment of the servants? Rudeness - even at the Christmas dinner table? A portrait of southern society? A microcosm of the US of the past?

6.The title and its focus, the use of the buses in Montgomery, blacks and whites, the servants? Odessa and the buses? The boycott and her willingness to walk? Her daughter going on the bus, the attack by the white boys, sex and violence?

7.The picture of the family, affluence? Norman and his style? His brother? Discussions, prejudice? The growing anger at Miriam and her behaviour? The meetings, the ultimate violence, the anger and his defence of Miriam? His children? The children and their attitude to Odessa? Coming home for the holidays? The daughter and her changing attitudes? Miriam, her place in society, the background of her marriage, lifestyle, children? The food and meals? The servant and the cleaning of the house? Racist or not? Her working with Odessa? The impact of the boycott, on herself and the women playing cards? The decision to pick up Odessa? Driving past? The interaction of her own life with that of Odessa? The children, presence? The Christmas dinner and the rude comments of the family? Norm and his being pleasant to Odessa in the kitchen? The changes because of the boycott, Miriam talking more to Odessa, sharing her memories? Changing attitudes towards Norman? Going out, driving the black women? Taking the daughter and experiencing the violence, standing in line and making a stand against racism? Her transformation?

8.The portrait of American whites of the '50s, in the south, the tradition of slavery, their attitude towards black Americans - as less than human? The conversation at the Christmas table and the humiliation of Odessa?

9.Whoopi Goldberg as Odessa, screen dignity and presence? At home, with her family, the husband, the meals? At church and the joy of the ceremonies? The impact of Martin Luther King? At work, the contrast with her own home, care for Miriam's children, for Norm and Miriam? The boycott, her walking, the pain, her options? The lifts with Miriam? Christmas - and the gift of the dress? The Christmas dinner and the rudeness of the family? The bond with Miriam, sharing memories, the demonstrations, the violence?

10.Odessa's family, the portrait of her husband, the son and his experience of violence, the daughter harassed on the bus?

11.The church sequences, Martin Luther King, bomb scares?

12.The brother-in-law, his viciousness, the pressure on Norm and Miriam? The meeting, the pickets, the whites and their viciousness? The black women and their singing? Stances taken and made?

13.A portrait of people in a time? Understanding the period and the issues through the story? The consequences in Alabama, for American society in general?