WAITING TO EXHALE

US, 1995, 117 minutes, Colour.
Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rechon, Loretta Devine, Michael Beach, Wesley Snipes, Gregory Hines, Denis Haysbert, Donald Faison.
Directed by Forest Whitaker.


A women's films, in the sense of focusing on women and women's issues, Waiting to Exhale has four black American women as leads (including Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett). It is the first of its kind and has been very popular in the US. I'm not sure how well it will travel. It has been adapted by author Terry McMillan?, with writer, Ronald Bass.

In fact, it is lush, affluent soap-opera. While it has some powerful moments, especially in the Angela Bassett story, it is fairly predictable and so particularly American that it is not easy to get into the plots and characters. Too soap-operatic and not the kind of film we would associate with Forest Whitaker..

1. The popularity of this film in the 1990s? From a popular novel? The author, female, African-American? Adapted for the screen? Directed by Forest Whitaker, a new perspective on a very female story?

2. The 1990s, affluent America, African- American community, marriages, families, important jobs, wealth?

3. The soap opera style of the stories? The big-screen treatment? Audience identifying with the characters? With the women? The subordinate roles of the men? The critique of men?

4. The title, breathing, breathing normally and easily, for the four central women?

5. The affluent suburbs and towns, homes, offices, the hotels, clubs? The beauty salon? The less affluent apartments? The background score, the wide range of songs, themes from the movies, for example Romeo and Juliet for Robin’s confrontation?

6. The cast, strong women?

7. The sisterhood amongst the women, the personal stories, the getting together, drinking and talking, able to help each other, criticise each other?

8. Structure of the film, the introduction to the four principal characters, developing each of their stories, intercutting, the final resolutions for each of them?

9. Savannah and her story? In her thirties, life experience, her work in the media, production? Her past relationship with Kenneth? Some self-pity? The pressure from her mother and the phone calls? The going to the hotel, dressing, makeup? The crowds, her reaction, the charming man offering to dance with her, the effect on her? His wife coming? The later night with him, his using her toothbrush, disillusioned? On the lookout, Kenneth and his coming to town, meeting contact again, memories of the past, their relationship, his saying that she did not call, resuming the relationship, the sexual satisfaction for Kenneth? Kenneth and his wife, possibility of separation? His love for his little daughter? The phone calls? Savannah appraising him, his saying she was the most important thing, and yet his daughter was the most important? Her confronting him, telling him the truth, breaking the relationship? The phone calls from her mother, a continued pressure, her outburst against her mother, her mother not wanting her to be alone as she was? Finally getting satisfaction from her work?

10. Bernadine and her story? Getting ready to go out, her husband saying he wanted to go with someone else, the separation, the bitterness? Bernadine gathering up his clothes, putting them in the car, setting it alight? With her children, letting them go with their father, the return and her glaring at him, love for the children? Upset, going out, to the bars, the one night stand? Talking things over with her friends? With Gloria on the Ferris wheel? Her disillusioned talk about marriage? The court sequences, her outburst against her husband and his lawyer? Support from her friends and their outings? At the bar, James and his approach, gently talking with her, her suspicions, her opening up to him? His story about his dying wife and his love for her? Going to the room, just lying together for support and comfort? His later letter and his expressing his gratitude to her, yet absolutely devoted to his dying wife? The further appearance in court, her new lawyer, the getting the houses, the car and cash? Able to support her children? And live very comfortably?

11. Robin and her story? Younger, mixed-up? The variety of relationships? Commitment? Russell and his coming in and out of her life? Husband? Also moving in and out? Her relationship with Michael, dancing, going home, the impersonal sexual experience, his promising her the world? Her work, the presentation and Michael contradicting her? Her anger, breaking with him? Her phone calls to Savannah, listening but not acting? Her finally getting desperate? Throwing the man out?

12. Gloria and her story? Age, weight, beautician, her glamorous style? Her husband leaving her? Her son, bringing him up, attached to him? The incident with the girl, her reprimanding him? His wanting to go overseas, musician? Her not wanting him to go? Her salon as a venue for the women to meet? Their hearing the news about Bernadine, the phone calls? Her enjoying the outings? Her birthday cake and celebration? Marvin moving in, going to welcome him, his story, inviting him over? His work with her son? Helping him? Her life and his telling her the truth that she would have to let her son go? Her being upset and cutting him off? Her going to church, the preacher praying for her son and his year in Spain, his delight, gratitude? Going to the airport, not letting her drive him? Her approach in Marvin and again, apologising? A future for them?

13. The portrait of the men, sympathetic and unsympathetic? Bernardine’s husband, abrupt leaving her after so many years, for his secretary, a white woman, Bernadine going to the office and the meeting and attacking him? With his children? The divorce, the conditions, his initial offers, the final agreement and the shaking hands? The contrast with James, polite, work as a lawyer, at the hotel, his meetings, having the drink, confiding in Bernadine about his wife, her illness, being white, his devotion, the comfort of the night with Bernardine, the sentiments of his letter and his regard for her? Kenneth, suave, his marriage and child, dissatisfaction with his marriage, coming to see Savannah, resuming the affair, his self-centeredness, the shock at her breaking off the relationship, his complaining to her mother? Marvin and his moving in, rapportl with Gloria, helping her son, his wise advice, her being upset, a future with her and her son? The man with the casual relationships, a suave manner with Savannah? The variety of men with Robin, Michael and his approach, his weight, his promises, dropping her? The other men in and out of her apartment?

14. Issues of men and women, relationships, fidelity and infidelity? Bonding between women? Glamorous, but nevertheless the style of soap opera?