MEMORIAL DAY
US, 1983, 120 minutes, Colour.
Mike Farrell, Shelley Fabares, Keith Michell, Bonnie Bedelia, Robert Walden, Edward Herrmann, Danny Glover.
Directed by Joseph Sargent.
Memorial Day is a very moving film about the Vietnam war and its aftermath. It was directed by Joseph Sergeant.
Mike Farrell, who acted as executive consultant for the film, gives a very moving performance as a lawyer who wants to forget his experience in Vietnam, especially the killing of children during an ambush. A 12-year reunion makes him face the realities of the past, his inability to help a buddy who was relying on him and who commits suicide. It makes him break out of himself and eventually tell the story as well as reconcile the family to the memory of their dead son. In this way, the suicide acts as a giver of life to those who stay alive, asking his friend to explain the reality to his son.
There is a good supporting cast led by Edward Herman, Shelley Fabares and Danny Glover (before he was famous). Robert Walden gives a powerful performance as the suicide.
There are many moving sequences, heightened emotions, a revelation on Memorial Day with different reactions from listeners to sympathy, to embarrassment, to fear and upset, to unwillingness to listen to these Vietnam war stories.
A film helpful to understanding the experience of those who fought in the war.
1.The impact of the Vietnam war on the United States? The aftermath? This film as a therapeutic psychodrama?
2.Los Angeles, the families, buddies' reunions, the workplace, the Texas sequences? Authentic America?
3.The title and its significance, Memorial Day as a public holiday beginning the summer, a celebration of freedom? Matt's revelation on that day? The assessment of the Vietnam war? Reactions? Willingness to listen or not, questions of blame, questions of avoidance?
4.Matt Walker at his lawyers' meetings, friendship with Ned, the deals, at work, ordinary life?
5.Going to the reunion, the jovial meeting, the horseplay, the 12 years, the drinking, talking and memories? Willie in his chair? The jovial buddy? The significance of the meeting for Tom Gibbs, his wanting to talk to Matt, his depression, the memories remaining, the place, the kids, the violence? The effect of the talk, Matt's reaction, wanting to distance himself, adjusting and forgetting? Tom's inability to forget, his grief, depression? Looking out at the Pacific?
6.Matt going home, relationship with Elly, unable to talk about Vietnam, the strain on their marriage? The kids, her work, his using her work as an excuse? His own legal work, friendship with Ned, ethical questions? His unwillingness to talk, accusing his wife of wanting to be a therapist? Friendships, Gay's questions? Elly feeling that he was a stranger in the house?
7.Tom's urgent phone call, Matt too busy? Eventually trying to find him, discovering him dead? The letter, going through his things? The police and their questions? Matt's offhandedness, distancing himself? The effect at work and at home? Ned trying to help? Ringing Cass but hanging up?
8.His slowness to read the letter, looking at the photos? The letter and the explanation, Tom asking him to go to his son? His going to visit Cass, her initial rejection, her explaining the background of their marriage, Tom's wanting to go to Vietnam, the effect of the experience, absence without leave? Her remarriage, inability to handle her son? Going to see Willie and Willie urging him to tell the truth? Going to Tom's parents, their unwillingness to hear the truth? The father going into town? The mother letting him stay? Meeting Marsh, Marsh doing his chores, the fact that Marsh had met his father, knew the story, deeply regretted the way that he had rejected his father? The shrewdness of Marsh in understanding what had gone on, what was being said and not said? The effect of this encounter on himself? (And the way that it was filmed with Marsh doing his work?) The build-up to Matt on Memorial Day, the picnic, his decision to tell the story, the attention to detail, emotional, power, the questions of responsibility and the consequences? The variety of reactions - Elly grateful to be listening, Ned and his constant support, Gay having asked the questions and listening? The others reacting, walking out, not wanting to spoil the picnic, questions of shifting the blame?
9.The legal case, the Hispanic man and his giving the truth, their not being able to save him from deportation? Discussions with Ruskin, his betraying them? Ned and his integrity and wanting to leave the case? Matt and the meetings, bashing Ruskin, resigning?
10.The funeral and those present, a reconciliation at the grave of Tom? His return, reconciliation with Elly, a new beginning?
11.The sketch of Willie, his injuries, memories, coping and advice?
12.Cass, the experience of marriage, her child, telling her son that her father was dead and a hero, wanting to forget, going to the funeral?
13.The parents and the image of their son, Marsh and what he had been told, the fact that he had met his father, the fact that his father wanted Matt to go and explain further?
14.The war and its impact, adjusting, forgetting, the need to express the deep and violent experiences?
15.The significance of Tom's death, bringing Matt to life, going to Marsh, going to the family, reconciling people at his grave, enabling them to have a new life?
