RANDOM HEARTS

US, 1999, 133 minutes, Colour.
Harrison Ford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Charles S. Dutton, Bonnie Hunt, Dennis Haysbert, Sydney Pollack, Richard Jenkins, Paul Guilfoyle, Peter Coyote, Dylan Baker, Lynne Thigpen, Bill Cobbs, Kate Mara.
Directed by Sydney Pollack.

Random Hearts is a love story – but with a different premise. Harrison Ford plays an internal affairs policeman. Kristin Scott Thomas is an aspiring congresswoman from New Hampshire.

When a plane crash occurs, each of their spouses is dead. In looking at the possessions, they discover each other’s keys and realise that the two were having an affair. This leads to reflection on their marriages, reflections on their work, and their falling in love.

The film is a romantic story for people in middle age – especially for fans of Harrison Ford, moving into more serious dramas than action shows. Kristin Scott Thomas had appeared in The Horse Whisperer and in the coming years was to appear in many films, British, American and French. There is a very strong supporting cast including director Sydney Pollack. A quarter of a century earlier, Pollack had made the romantic drama The Way We Were. He had also won an Oscar in 1985 for directing Out of Africa. The film has very strong credentials including a script by Darryl Ponsican (The Last Detail), cinematography by Philippe Rousselot and a jazz score by veteran Dave Grusin.

1. A love story? Sentiment? Sentimentality? Themes of marriage, relationships, fidelity? Obsession?

2. The world of Washington DC, the crime world, police investigations? Politics? Political life and ordinary life? The musical score?

3. The title, the accident, fate?

4. The introduction to Dutch, the girl, work with Alcee? The arrest, the interrogation? His wife, his love? His meeting with Kay? The law, family, politics? Different worlds for Kay and for Dutch?

5. The crash, the officers, Dutch, Kay, the search among the possessions, the discovery of the keys, the realisation of the affair?

6. Dutch, love? Identifying his wife, getting to understand the situation, memories of his love, the truth? Motivations, obsession? The effect on his work? The assault, the reactions with Alcee? Suspicions? The visit to Kay, the talk, Jessica and the staff? Going to Miami? The room, the meal...? The plane and the car? The sudden kiss and the effect? Discussions? Kay and her changing? The urgency about politics? The check, the house? Their being together? The apartment, talk with the staff, reactions, secrecy? Fidelity? The story?

7. Kay and her life, her staff, Carl Broman? Politics, New England? The television? The effect? Protecting Jessica? The bracelet? The episodes in Miami, the return? Her political decisions? The elevator scene? Her love? Wendy Judd and the affair? The long phone call? The apartment, the clean break?

8. Dutch, the search, the answering machine, the last words?

9. The street shooting? Kay in the hospital?

10. The consequences, Dutch, his promotion? Kay and the election? The meeting, the promises?

11. The supporting characters, the police personnel, the political staff?

12. The experience for Dutch and Kay, at this stage of their lives and careers? Their future?