LEAVE YESTERDAY BEHIND

US, 1978, 97 minutes, Colour.
John Ritter, Carrie Fisher, Buddy Ebsen.
Directed by Richard Michaels.

Leave Yesterday Behind is popular American telemovie material. A young man, successful at sport and study, has a polo accident and becomes a paraplegic. He is bitter, is helped to recuperate and make a new life for him self as well as fall in love. The film shows something of the reality of accidents, hospitalisation, need for therapy and healing. It is a contribution to public awareness of disability and sensitivity. The film is competent and glossy, at times like soap opera, at times moving even sometimes sentimental. There is a competent cast including John Ritter and Carrie Fisher (at the time she was making the Star Wars films). It resembles many of the films about disabilities.

1. The impact of telemovies: plot, themes, characters and situations for a home audience? The treatment of serious themes at home audience level?

2. The atmosphere of the plot: the polo games, hospitals, ranch? How authentic? The blend of the real and the contrived? The California setting, colour photography, musical score?

3. The setting of the problem: the facts about the accident, about Paul and his disability, suffering, being in hospital, sympathy, bitterness? The polo games? The jokes about disability? His background of winning and being frustrated in his disability?

4. The injury itself. the medical background and explanation, the psychological trauma? The rehabilitation on the ranch? Paul's self-pity and bitterness, fear? His concern about his masculinity, relationships, sexuality - and his withdrawing from people? His refusal to be challenged? His admiration for his grandfather and having to help him, the encounter with Marnie - and the possibility of hope?

5. The film's presentation of Paul's character: his background, sport, the impact of the accident, watching television sports events with his friends, memories? The ranch and Doc's looking after him? Connie and her reaction to his tantrums? Her ironic humour? Marnie and the broken window, his bitterness towards her? Rejection of her apology? Doc and the van for Paul, going out with him on his rounds, the dramatic rescue? The rescue by Marnie? Growing friendship, interest in the horses. veterinary work, taking the trotter out? The encounter with David and comparisons? His refusal to go swimming - but his enjoying it? The build-up to the race, Marnie's winning, presenting her with the present? Her father's bitterness and insult? David's kissing her? His opting out? Marnie challenging him and his fears about sex and marriage? His helping with the delivery of the foal and the reconciliation? His facing the future realistically? The fact that this character represents the kind of accident that could happen to anyone?

6. Marnie as heroine: strong minded, way with horses, relationship with her father, David and his love for her, her anger at Paul, the apology, her sensitivity to his loneliness, the rescue and the basis of friendship? Phone calls? Sharing with him, the swim? David and his feeling of rejection? Her anger at her father's warning and insult? The future with Paul?

7. The sketch of Doc, his operation, helping Paul, the accident? Connie and her humour?

8. David and his work, love for Marnie, losing out to Paul?

9. Marnie's father - his love for his daughter, protecting her, harshness towards Paul? The reconciliation at the birth of the foal?

10. The film's attention to detail, creating a credible atmosphere? The serious them and insight by story and feeling?