SQUARE DANCE

US, 1987, 118 minutes, Colour.
Jason Robards, Rob Lowe, Jane Alexander, Winona Ryder.
Directed by Daniel Petrie.

Square Dance (also known as Home Is Where The Heart Is) is an interesting and enjoyable portrait of Texas characters. It is a slice of Texas life, scenes on a farm in a country town as well as in Fort Worth.

The performances are very good: Jason Robards as a crusty old grandfather, Jane Alexander as his daughter wanting a good time, Rob Lowe, acting against type, as a mentally handicapped young man. However, the film belongs to Winona Ryder (Beetlejuice, Heathers), the young granddaughter from whose film characters and situations are perceived. It is a strong performance and highlights a girl growing up.

The film has a great deal of authentic detail, emotional interaction amongst members of the family. Direction is by Daniel Petrie, whose credits range from A Raisin In The Sun to Fort Apache The Bronx to Bay Boy (his Canadian memoir).

1. A piece of Americana, Texas life and style, ordinary people?

2. The Texas countryside, the town, Fort Worth and its life and style? The songs and the musical score? Contemporary songs, popular, square dance?

3. The title and the focus on the dance itself, Dillard and his memories, teaching Gemma how to do the square dance, Gemma teaching Rory and his playing the violin, Juanelle and her enjoyment of the dance? The square dance as the symbol of the movements of the characters throughout the film?

4. The focus on Gemma and her life? Her age, at home with her grandfather, her work around the house, the farm? Her relation to Pop? Her love of religion, listening to the radio, the church visits? The square dance and her enjoyment of learning the movements? A revelation of her grandfather? The picnic, the friendship with Beecham, her being upset by her grandfather's racist comments, Beecham lost in the garbage tip? Her searching for him, finding his hat and taking it with her? Her mother's arrival, her recognising her from the photos, talking? Not wanting to go away with her? Being angry with Pop, getting the money, the bus, the hitch-hiking? Arriving in Fort Worth and the new horizons of the city?

5. Arrival in Fort Worth, the garage, meeting Frank King, his friendliness? Her mother, her lifestyle above the garage? Work at the hairdresser? Meeting the girls, wandering about the hairdresser's, listening to them, getting her hair done, her glasses off? Aggie and her friendship? Gwen and her talk about men? Meeting Rory, finding him nice, the cooking discussions, enjoying his company, talking, her love for him, listening to his fiddle? The outings, with Frank and her mother, her mother's hopes, dancing? Going to church with her mother? The clash with her mother, Frank's violence towards her? Her running out of the house? Discovery of Gwen and Rory together? Her anger? Her discussion with her mother about sex, her discovery of her period and her confusion? Hitting Gwen with the Bible, Rory and his injuries? Going back to him? Her reconciliation with him?

6. The decision for her to return home, her mother taking her, the farewell, the discussion about belonging, Pop in the garden, finding Beecham again, the square dance with Pop? Her learning and growing?

7. Pop and his crustiness, at home, the hard work, the square dance and its moves, his love for his granddaughter, irritation with her religion, racist statements? His being left alone? Her sending the postcard and his reading it? Her return and his joy, the dance?

8. Juanelle and her background, leaving home, with boys, not knowing who Gemma's father was? Her arrival, manner and dress, style, wanting to take Gemma away, Gemma's refusal? Her life in the garage, with Frank? Wanting a good time? Doing the hair, the chatter with the women, her friendships, Rory? Her liking men, going out, dancing? Frank and the bashing, the financial deal not going through? Her concern with Gemma, the clash, Rory's injury? Taking her daughter back? Questions of belonging?

9. Rory, his relationship with his mother, his mental handicap, wandering around, his age, handsome? The women and their reaction? His fiddle and his skill in playing? The sequence with Gemma and the cooking? Going to his job, calling out to Gemma? The discussion about church, people not telling him things - but his knowing things? The friendship with Gemma, the sexual encounter with Gwen? Her being hurt, his being hurt? The reconciliation with Gemma? His going to the institution and not being let out?

10. Gwen as the young good-time girl, relationship with Rory? The other women in the hairdresser's?

11. Beecham, his place in the town, friendship with Gemma, the racist comments by Pop? Lost in the rubbish tip? Found again?

12. An enjoyable slice of Texas life, portrait of human beings and interactions?