NO LOOKING BACK
US, 1998, 96 minutes, Colour.
Lauren Holly, Edward Burns, Jon Bon Jovi, Jennifer Esposito, Blythe Danner.
Directed by Edward Burns.
Edward Burns is quite well known as an actor. However, since the mid 1990s, he has directed quite a number of feature films. He began with the critically successful The Brothers Mc Mullen and followed it with She’s the One. Other titles include Sidewalks of New York, The Groomsmen, Purple Violets.
This film is his third. It is set on the north east coast of the United States, a small town, often raining, with people wanting to get out of the town or accepting their being stuck in the town. This is the story of Claudia, played by Lauren Holly, living with Michael, Jon Bon Jovi, whom she knew in the past. However, she also has a past, her relationship with Charlie, Edward Burns himself, a pregnancy, a disapproving father, an abortion which left her unable to bear children. And Charlie disappeared. He now returns after three years, wanting to continue the relationship with Claudia. She is uncertain, angry with Charlie, attracted to him, thinking she should leave with him. She also clashes with Michael.
The film was written and directed very much from a woman’s point of view, a sympathetic portrait of Claudia, her dreams, her frustrations, her sense of failure. Amongst the supporting cast is Blythe Danner as her mother, whose husband walked out on her.
The film evokes the atmosphere in a small town, the lives and complications of ordinary people, and offers some emotional insight into their lives.
1. A domestic drama? American? Universal? Ordinary people in ordinary situations?
2. The career of Edward Burns, writing, directing, acting? His themes? His sensitivity to ordinary people? To women? That perspective?
3. The portrait of a woman, comparisons with the men, callous and callow? A film sensitising audiences to women’s sensibilities?
4. The American north-east, the coastal town, the opening and the stills, the scenes, the town, deserted, the pier, the streets and houses? The recurring images of the town? The locations: homes, streets, bars, garages? The weather?
5. The music, the songs, the moods?
6. The title, Claudia, Charlie, Michael, Claudia’s mother?
7. The credibility of the plot, the characters, their behaviour, motivations, hesitations and decisions? Claudia’s final choice?
8. Claudia’s story? The past, Charlie, love, pregnancy, the father’s disapproval, the abortion and its consequences, her not being able to bear children? Charlie vanishing? Her being hurt? Friendship with Michael, living with him for three years? Her job, at the diner, her prospects? At home, with Michael, his work? Possibility for marriage? Her dreams unfulfilled? Charlie and his return, her disdain, watching him, the attraction, at the diner, tension with Michael, the outings at the bar, Charlie coming to fix Michael’s car, his coming on to Claudia? The growing attraction, the memories, reliving the past? The background of her mother and her father’s leaving, his phone call and leaving the house to his wife, not returning, no contact with his daughters? Her relationship with Kelly, Kelly’s date? Friendship with Teresa and confiding in her? Charlie’s friends? Visiting the garage? The talk, the explanation, going to the motel, Michael searching for her, hurt and the past in her, going to her mother, visiting Charlie, not going to Florida, her decision for herself, driving away? Not wanting to wonder in the future, what if…? Her future?
9. Charlie, his past, relationship with Claudia, pregnancy, abortion, not facing responsibility, suddenly leaving, not returning for three years? His mother’s attitude towards him in the house? His expectations, Michael telling him about the relationship, the scenes at the bars, playing cards with his friends, beating Michael? Stalking Claudia, the diner? At the bar, the college girl, the proposal of sex, her refusal? Coming to fix the car on the wrong day? His job, offered a future? His selfishness, the night with Claudia, expecting her to leave, her refusing?
10. Michael, his character, relationship with Claudia, three years, a reliable job, wanting to marry, the hesitation about the proposal, Claudia and her putting things off? His talk with Charlie, the card game? Friendship with Goldie? Discussions, hurt when Claudia did not come home, ousting her?
11. Claudia’s mother, in depression after her husband leaving? His callous phone call? Her coming outside and breathing the sea air? Claudia and her relationship with Kelly, preparing her for the date?
12. Her friends, with Teresa, confiding in her, with Goldie?
13. Life in a small town, the small focus, the young people gathering in bars, the gossip, few horizons?
