STAYING TOGETHER
US, 1989, 91 minutes, Colour.
Dermot Mulroney, Tim Quill, Sean Astin, Stockard Channing, Melinda Dillon, Daphne Zuniga.
Directed by Lee Grant.
Staying Together is one of those enjoyable films that entertains as well as irritates. There are some surprising gaps and implausibilities in the characterisations and motivation (for example the mayor and her being in the restaurant at the news of her election). However, the characters are so vivid, the sense of humanity so strong, that audiences will probably enjoy the film and get much out of it, despite its limitations.
Direction is by Lee Grant (Tell Me a Riddle, A Matter of Sex). She brings verve to the portrayal of this Carolina family facing crises and responsibilities. The three boys in the family, well played by Tim Quill, Dermot Mulrooney, Sean Astin, seem responsible at the opening of the film - but grow into some beginnings of maturity. There is an interesting portrait of the parents. Relationships sometimes seem like cliches from other films - yet are given some forcefulness to make audiences think.
A family film with the raucous touch, as well as humour and pathos.
1. Portrait of a family? Crises? Humour? Learning responsibilities?
2. The Carolina settings, home, the chicken store, the town itself, building sites, the surrounding countryside? The range of songs and the musical score?
3. The title, reference to family, its meanings?
4. Audiences identifying with the characters? How real, how contrived? The situations? The motivation and causal links in the plot? The enjoyment of the parts? The whole?
5. The introduction: where the three boys were, their mother's concern, father and his demanding style? The boys at work, at home? The father and his responsibilities? Loyalties? Audience interest in these characters? Sympathetic or not?
6. The focus on the father, his being away for the day, stern at the table, his conversation? The meal? His decision, his speech about eggs and hating them? Not wanting to confine his life to the chicken store? The reactions of the sons? Support of his wife? The oldest son angry and going away? His watching Kit on the marathon? Duncan at home and his attempts at humour? Going to the nightclub to hear his wife sing? Going away for the holiday? The return? Retiring, not reconciled with his oldest son, his collapse and death?
7. The portrait of the mother: quiet, knowing what was happening with the family? Her going to sing in the club and the family enjoying it? Supporting her husband's decision? Away on the holiday, coming back with the sons untidy? The impact of her husband's death, his funeral, her grief? Kit and his attack on her and her anger, piling the food on his plate? The store owner and friendship, the past, singing in the club? The reconciliation with her children?
8. The oldest boy, his affair with Nancy, bond with her, meeting her, her running for election, her winning the vote and the break-up? Getting drugs from the mother with the child? Playing with the little boy? His work, commitment to the family business? Rowdiness, drinking, attacking the girl and her boyfriend? His wanting to run the store better? Relationship with his father, anger at the announcement, no consultation? Going to get the job, staying despite being fired, eventually being promoted? His not going home? Duncan coming to talk with him, the plea to go home? Arriving too late and his father's death, weeping? His anger with Kit and the outburst towards his mother? The chase and the crash, the fight, the three boys reconciled? The wedding reception, his being with the woman and her child, his prospects?
9. Kit and his seriousness, running, collecting the boys and bringing them home? Work? His girlfriend and yet her engagement? His marathon success, training and running, with the girl, the motel, the seduction, the after-effect on him? His getting the job in the store? Inviting his mother to the club and her singing? His father's death, the grief and the anger, his continually going to the grave? His attack on his mother and her reaction? By himself, the chase through the forest, into the lake? The fight and the reconciliation? At the wedding reception with the girls?
10. Duncan and his loudness, humour, being drunk, jokes at home, work, with the girl in the chicken store, sexual advances, bravado? His trying to reconcile? His decision to go to college? Trying to better himself? The plea with the older brother to come home? The truck chase and going into the lake?
11. The owner of the store, giving Kit the job, devotion to his mother, singing in the club, talking frankly to Kit and his being misinterpreted, a future?
12. The girl, her relationship with her fiance, running, the sexual encounter in the motel, her attitude towards security and a potential husband, the argument with Kit, the wedding and her dancing?
13. Nancy, her candidacy for mayor, relationship with the older brother, real estate and the plans for the town, the night of her election and her being in the bar? The break-off?
14. The fiance, his relationship with the girl, his anger with the boys? Giving the oldest brother the job, wanting to fire him, keeping him on? His marriage and the reception? The future of his marriage?
15. Irresponsibility and responsibilities? Change? Family, truth and lies, hope and reconciliation?
