BREAKING GLASS

UK, 1980, 99 minutes, Colour.
Hazel O'Connor, Phil Daniels, Jon Finch, Jonathan Pryce.
Directed by Brian Gibson.

Breaking Glass is the name of a rock group. Hazel O'Connor is the name of the singer/composer leading the group with an, at times, frightening intensity and verve. The plot is the oldest one of the rise of the unknown to celebrity, self selling and collapse - but the context and surface are contemporary. She says her style and songs are 'inspired by punk'. She is right - the punk style influences are obvious; but, frequently, she is inspired with ballad lyrics, social observation of England's unemployment situation but booming record industry. Phil Daniels (of Quadrophenia) is excellent as the ferret-like manager. A vigorous British film, old story, new version, well done.

1. A satisfying British film of the late seventies? The vitality of the film? The old star is born story but a new form influenced by the musical styles of the seventies, punk? Social feeling and comment?

2. The reflection of Britain in the seventies - decline. bigger, social upheaval, punk? The needs of the ordinary British public and the failure of government? Uproar? The music illustrating this critical uproar?

3. The talent of Hazel O'Connor - her acting, composing the songs, her singing of them? Her appearance? The vigour of her inspiration and performance? The variety of singing styles, make up, movement? The strength of the lyrics? The broad social themes? The reaction of the audience, stirred, emotional reactions? The observation and criticism of England in the seventies? The irony of her final robot like performance? The tone and significance of the lyrics of her songs: Writing On The Wall, Monsters In Disguise, Come Into The Air, Big Brother, Who Needs It?, Will You, Eighth Day, Top Of The Wheel, Calls The Tune, Black Man, Give Me An Inch, If Only, Uproar with the possible leading to anarchy?

4. The cinematic treatment of this show business story - colour photography, Panavision, light and darkness, London and the English countryside, a loud England, pubs, concerts? The contrast with the flats, dingy streets? The world of rallies and demonstrations? The contrast with the mansions of the wealthy entrepreneurs? The continual motif of the overview of the City of London ? and its roofs? The contrast with the serene exterior with what was going on underneath?

5. The focus on the character of Kate - meeting her singing in groups, her intensity, the type of audience she was singing for, parties and the encounter with Danny? Her worrying whether she would be a success or not? Danny and his push? Posters? The growing success after the auditions and performances? The change of lifestyle, money, being on the road? The interviewing of the members of the band? The bond between the group? Danny and his control of her and her allowing this? The bond between the two - liking and even loving? The growing success, demonstrations, concerts? The danger, for example in the park sequence with the singing of Black Man and the upheaval?

6. The contrast with Danny - his thin appearance, the London spiv, a man full of ideas and push, gatecrashing parties, not afraid to talk to anybody, handling advertising and auditions, reacting when pushed down? Looking for breaks, interfering, going on tour? The intensity of Danny and the driving force behind him?

7. The contrast with Woods? his wealth, egotistical, control, the audition, his knack for exploiting people? His staff? His interest in Kate and control over her? The pace and pressure of her performances?

8. The sketching of the band, the individuals and their auditions, personal styles and skills? The humour of the auditions? The saxophone player and his drug background? Their success together, being on the road, relationship with Kate?

9. Kate and her gradual build-up of an image, the media and interviews, her horror of violence, the pace and her reliance on drugs, the doctor and his pushing her? The tour and the clash with Danny and his leaving? The final performance with her being a luminous robot, as a symbol of what was happening to her? The inevitable collapse?

10. Danny and his leaving, wandering? Audience sympathy with him, counterbalancing the reaction to his earlier pushing of Kate? Danny's push as more humane than that of Woods?

11. The visual impact of Kate’s collapse and its ugliness for successful artists? How inevitable? Danny's visit to Kate and the re-establishing of the bond? The emphasis on sentiment and humane values in the rat race success world?

12. How interesting the film's portrait of the world of ambition, success, the overreaching of oneself? The characters as types as well as individuals?

13. The background of England and English society in the seventies? Class distinctions? Inner city people? Unemployment? The attitudes of Tory governments? The anger of the younger generation manifested in dress, punk behaviour and attitudes? The irony of the success of the world of records and communication?

14. This kind of film as the perennial show business story and its effect as a critique of England in the seventies?