SOLO

New Zealand/Australia, 1978, 95 minutes, Colour.
Vincent Gil, Lisa Peers, Martyn Sanderson, Davina Whitehouse, Perry Armstrong.
Directed by Tony Williams.

Solo is a joint Australian - New Zealand production, a romantic story with enough vigour to tide it over its very conventional patches. Attractive Lisa Peers encounters widower forest patroller Vincent Gil and his accident-prone precocious son, Perry Armstrong. A mixture of adventurous flight sequences, some lyrical love story episodes and some genial comedy (in a take-it-or-leave-it kind of way from Perry Armstrong), Solo poses questions of love and commitment in a popular but credible way. Plenty of attractive New Zealand scenery, a good-natured humorous performance from Davina Whitehouse as a vigorous farmer (she also appears in Sleeping Dogs), add to what is quite pleasing entertainment.

1. The appeal and impact of this Australia-New? Zealand co-production? The contributions from each country? Local interest and appeal? International?

2. How important was the New Zealand atmosphere, the life style, the presentation of the towns, the forests, the importance of the scenery and the emphasis the film gave to it?

3. The introduction to Judy, establishing her as a hitch-hiker, the swim, the fire, her not being arrested? The introduction of the forest patrollers and the basis for the interaction between Judy and Paul?

4. The world of Paul and Billy? The importance of the home scenes, establishing the bond between the two, Billy at school, Paul at work? Billy and the flying of the plane (and Judy's reaction?)?

5. Paul as the hero of the film? An ordinary kind of man, widower, love for his son? His dedication to his work and his skill, his flying, time alone, the importance of the building of the plane?

6. Judy and the explanation of her background of studies, boyfriend, impossibility of commitment? Her growing in affection for Paul and Billy? The possibilities of leaving them but her staying? Her condition of no commitment and the repercussions for herself and for Paul?

7. How precocious a boy was Billy? The humour of his being accident prone, of his semi-adult remarks, his needing affection and a mother? Flying the plane? His flying his father's plane and not being able to handle it, crashing and the effects?

8. The importance of planes, the flying sequences with their fear and their beauty? The change with Billy's crash and its repercussions for them all?

9. The interlude with the Beaulieux family? Mr. Beaulieux and his elegant style, piano playing etc.? The contrast with his wife and her driving the tractor, down-to-earth approach? The pleasant time that they had there, the lyrical sequences? The discussion about love and its permanence?

10. The contribution of the watchman character? His being on the tower, the first visit, Judy's returning there? His explanation of the lonely work, of Paul's work? His inviting her to shout and her feeling freed by it?

11. The break-up sequence and its dramatic effect? Paul's difficulty in handling the situation? Judy's indication that she would return the next year? Was there a future for them?

12. The treatment of the love themes, insight and tenderness? Credible characters, issues? How authentic were the human relationships?

13. The explanation of the title, its application to each of the main characters in terms of flying, being by themselves, coping?