CONSPIRACY OF LOVE
US, 1987, 100 minutes, Colour.
Robert Young, Drew Barrymore, Elizabeth Wilson, Glynnis O'Connor.
Directed by Noel Black.
Conspiracy of Love, by its title, indicates that it is a popular American sentimental telemovie. It is a star vehicle for veteran Robert Young as well as for young veteran, Drew Barrymore (E.T., Irreconcilable Differences, Firestarter). The film is set in Chicago, a picture of a young girl growing up, devoted to her grandfather and idealising him only to discover that the stories he tells her are not the truth. Robert Young is his normal genial presence (after 60 Yrs) as the grandfather. Elizabeth Wilson is the grandmother and Glynnis O'Connor, who used to play children's roles, is now Drew Barrymore's mother. The film presents a lot of contemporary problems, the broken family, the absent father, the working mother, the devoted grandparents - questions of custody.
1. Entertaining telemovie? For the wide television audience? Audiences identifying with the family situations, problems, conflicts?
2. The Chicago settings, homes, barber shops? The streets, school? The baseball field? The musical score?
3. The title, its focus, Jodie and her relationship with her absent father, with her mother, her grandfather?
4. The film's focus on Jodie, her age, growing up? Her love for her mother? Her absent father and her love for him? Going to the barber shop, loving to hear her grandfathers stories, his being a champion boxer, singing at the opening of the baseball match? Her project? At school, her friends? Her love for her mother, wariness of John's appearance in the household? Her birthday and the planned picnic, preferring to spend the day with her grandparents? Her father's return, the emotional conflict? Her finding out the truth about her grandfather, smashing the trophies? Refusing to speak to him? The question of access and custody? Marcia moving Jodie to another apartment? The court hearings, the grandfather and his anxiety, Jodie and her harshness towards him? The conflict with her father, her mother re-marrying and re-settling in New York? Her running away, going to the barber shop? The reconciliation with her grandfather, going to the baseball field - and his story about being outside yet singing? The new found peace and love and reconciliation?
5. The grandfather, the barber, in the same shop for over 40 years? Love for his granddaughter, telling her stories? The possibility of buying the shop? Relationship with his wife? Their son having left Marcia? The tensions in the household? The blaming of Marcia? The love for Jodie, spoiling her? Her birthday? The difficulties with Marcia moving out? Access and outings? The grandfathers reaction to Jodie's understanding that he was telling lies? Anxiety, the lawyer, the plans for access, going to court? His feeling hurt? The public denunciation? Jodie’s running away, his finding her because of the moving pole at the barber shop? His telling the truth, taking her to the base ball field? Singing the national anthem? The reconciliation?
6. Marcia, her love for her daughter, working, the grandparents caring for Jodie? The dress designs? The visitor from New York? Dates? Attracted? Her absent husband? Moving out, the clashes with Lily? Setting up the apartment? Jodie
and her antagonism towards her grandfather? His continued impositions? The court hearing? Her husbands return, clash, talking things over? Jodie's running away? The reconciliation?
7. The absent father, no reasons given? His return, wanting to see his daughter? His searching for himself? A possibility for reconciliation or not? The contrast with John, interest in Marcia, the outings? His regard for Jodie?
8. Lily, her love for her son, the antagonism towards Marcia, its growing? Her husband everything would be alright? Her clashes with her daughter-in-law? The pain of the court hearings? The reconciliation?
9. The particular American tone of the film, sentiment, hearts on sleeves? Families, clashes, resort to court hearings? The heroism stories, the champions, the national anthem? A piece of Americana?
