MISS FIRECRACKER

US, 1989, 103 minutes, Colour.
Holly Hunter, Tim Robbins, Mary Steenburgen, Alfre Woodard, Scott Glenn, Amy Wright, Ann Wedgeworth.
Directed by Thomas Schlamme.

Miss Firecracker is an excellent piece of Americana. It is set in Yazoo City in Georgia, an ordinary small town, factories and shops, where the Miss Firecracker contest is one of the big events of the year and the girls feel that it is an achievement of ambition.

The film was written by Beth Hanley (Crimes of the Heart, Nobody's Fool) based on her play The Miss Firecracker Contest. It is full of insights into character, dramatic and comic situations, observations about America. The film is served. by an excellent cast led by Holly Hunter (Raising Arizona, Broadcast News). She carries the film. Mary Steenbergen is her cousin, the former Miss Firecracker, Tim Robbins (Bull Durham) is her eccentric cousin, Alfre Woodard (Cross Creek, Scrooged) is the daffy dressmaker and Scott Glenn has a more subdued role as a carnival rouseabout.

The film is a warm human document, full of sentiment and comedy, not taking the easy way out of solutions but yet full of hope.

1. Pleasing comedy, satire, quality of observation, optimism?

2. Georgia locations, Yazoo City, factories and homes, high society, shops, the carnival? Musical score, songs, use of 'The Star-Spangled? Banner?'

3. Beth Hanley's screenplay from her play? The alternate title? The strength of the dialogue, speeches, strength of character insight; situations?

4. The portrait of Carnelle and Holly Hunter's presence performance? The little girl watching the parade at the beginning and the end of the film? The fish factory, at work, the lunch hour, the overseer persecuting her, docking her pay, firing her? Her reputation in the town? Her appearance, the bright red hair? Her decision to enter the competition? Going to see Popeye and arrangements about the making of the clothes? Her style, way of talking, manner? Going to see Mac Sam and the bond between the two, sending the postcards, meeting every year, fond of him? Elaine and her coming, the hopes of the red dress? The symbolism of the red dress throughout the film? Preparation, the clothes, talking with Elaine, sharing with her? Her vision of her own life, giving it some meaning, redeeming her reputation? Having the orphan at hone, taking him out, the meal? The preliminary and her going? Our not seeing it? The desperate waiting for the phone call? The arrival of Delmount, the bond between the two? Waiting, washing her hair, the disappointment - her eagerness on the phone when she was accepted? Sharing the JOY with the family? The other girls and the people in the town laughing at her? The competition, her nervousness, her fall and her wig coming off? The lout throwing things at her and Delmount hitting him? Her success with her routine with 'The Star-Spangled? Banner'? The judges watching, the result, her coming fifth? Her reaction, disappointment, her toughness in going on the float? Wanting to be by herself? The time with Mac, Sam and wanting to be alone, his proposal, her not being able to accept? Going to the observatory? Coming home, finding the red dress and putting it on, the confrontation with Elaine? Her being freed by her attempting, participation, the red dress? Going to the observatory, her sense of achievement and hope?

5. Elaine, the cousin, the winner, the memories, their dress, leaving her husband, the Southern belle and her style, meeting Carnelle, deigning to talk to the neighbours, flirting with the manager of the contest? Not watching Carnelle's performance? Delmount's arrival, their fighting, her having put him into the institution? The question of the selling of the house? Her resentment of not being left anything? Flowers from her husband?, The tension of the night with Carnelle, the orphan at the meal and trying to comfort her? At the competition, her support? Reconciliation with Franklin? Delmount telling her the truth? The confrontation with Carnelle about the red dress? The red dress as hers and nobody else's? Her future?

6. Delmount and his work, picking up the dead dogs, deciding to leave, hopping the train? The impact of his personality, violence, in the institution? His speaking his philosophy of life? His vocabulary? His arrival, the girls in the town swooning? His friendship with Carnelle, fighting with Elaine? The meal with the orphan? Going to the shop, searching for the red dress, the impact on Popeye? At the carnival, his hitting the boy who insulted Carnelle? Walking off, in front of the train, his decision to return? Meeting Popeye, going on the boat, sharing with her, a future with her, watching the fireworks?

7. Popeye and her story, her way of talking, looking? Meeting Carnelle, glad she got the job, with Delmount and the search for the red dress and the material, her helping with the performance, with the flag during 'The Star Spangled Banner,' running off-stage? Delighted to be with Delmount, in the boat, the end?

8. Mac and his work, his health, his collapse? His attraction towards Carnelle, the postcards? Enjoying the show, praising her, praising her strength and taking it on the chin? Proposal? The talk with Delmount? His proposal being refused and his going on?

9c The girls in the town, swooning at the bar about Delmount? Going into the competition? The gawky contestant, her playing the piano and the turmoil during it?

10. The glamorous girl, her dress, look, looking down on Carnelle? Her performance of Scarlett's words in Gone With The Wind? Carnelle's praise? Her winning?

11. the sketch of the organisers, the old South style, singing and dancing, flirting? The values inculcated in the girls?

12. The contest, in itself, what it symbolised, for the town, requiring poise and style from the girls, their performance, achievement, finery?

13. A vivid portrait of a way of life, a piece of Americana, glimpses into, ordinary people, conflicts, love, resolutions, hopes?