THE LAST WINTER
US, 1984, 92 minutes, Colour.
Kathleen Quinlan, Tona Elian, Stephen Macht.
Directed by Riki Missimoff.
The Last Winter is an Israeli production with imported American stars Kathleen Quinlan and Stephen Macht. The writer-director conveys a feminine perspective and sensitivity to the plot and the characters.
The film has a worthy plot, Israeli wives anxious about their husbands as prisoners of war in 1973. There is suspense for the audience in knowing that only one husband is to return. However, the film is treated as soap opera - and the style of direction and performance very obvious. This militates against the effectiveness of the film as a film and as a human exploration.
1. The emotional impact of the film? For the female audience, male? Israeli audience, American, universal audience?
2. The background of Israel: Jerusalem, the '70s? The soap opera and obvious television style? The screenplay and its focus on the obvious (even the danger of being trite)? The melodramatic aspects of soap opera? The obvious and some times obtrusive score?
3. The title and its reference to the war, 1973? David and Maya and their final winter? Maya and Joyce? A winter for Israel? So many wars, sorrows, death?
4. The themes of war for modern Israel - especially the clashes with Syria and Egypt? War and deaths, patriotism? The plight of the prisoners of war? The use of newsreel footage? The pros and cons of the war? Information given about Israel, its clashes with its neighbours, Israel's coping with wars?
5. The framework of the film - the message from the military to wives that their husbands had died? Mapa and her initial fears, the final confirmation of her fears? The exploration of the effect on Maya, on Joyce? on Israeli wives? The wives and their concern, the screenings of newsreels of prisoners of war, the claims of the various wives, the reaction of individuals in the group watching, griefs and excitement? The two women claiming the same husband? Joyce's hostile reaction? Maya's phone calls? Chasing Joyce? Anger leading to sharing? The exchanging of stories? The outings: swimming, Paul? The sharing of grief? Joyce's mother-in-law and her reaction to Maya? The two women going on holiday - and the intimacy of the two women? Maya's abortion story? The lists not coming through? The impact of the final list? The hospital sequences, meeting Eddie at the plane? The intimate sequences of husband and wife, Maya and the relationship with Eddie, the night, passion? Bringing her to reality? Her being hurt by David? Her hurting him? Accepting the truth - with her worry about being punished? Her finally coming to terms with the situation?
6. Joyce and her American background, coming to Israel, her son? Her tough stances? Watching the film, identifying her husband, her anger with Maya, ignoring her? Relenting, talking, the shared detail of their lives, laughter? Jogging, swimming, talking? Her story? Her mother-in-law and the hostility? Michael and her love for him, tantrums? The problem of going on the holiday - Michael's attitude, her mother-in-law's? The holiday and the talking, the intimacy? Eddie's return and her relief? Her attitude towards the war and Israel's participation in wars? Michael and the gun? Her reaction to Eddie in hospital, meeting Maya, permitting the sexual encounter? The letter and her understanding of Maya? A future for her and Eddie?
7. Eddie as a presence throughout the film, the background of Israeli soldiers fighting, Michael's reaction, the newsreel? The effect of the returning prisoners of war, the hospital sequence, his noticing Maya, the relationship with her? His future with Joyce?
8. Michael and the influence of the two cultures? His relationship with his grandmother? Her Israeli attitudes compared with American attitudes? The importance of the party for Eddie's return and his relationship to his father?
9. The presentation of the military, organisation and lack of organisation, the crowds, the picking up of the responses when the list was read out etc.? Journalists?
10. Themes of war, marriage, meaning, family, friendship, intimacy?
