MUMFORD

US, 1999, 107 minutes, colour.
Loren Dean, Jason Lee, Alfre Woodard, Hope Davis, Mary Mc Donnell, Martin Short, David Paymer, Jane Adams, Ted Danson, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Robert Stack, Dana Ivey, Kevin Tighe.
Directed by Lawrence Kasdan.

Mumford received very limited theatrical release, in some areas going straight to video. This is a pity since it is one of the best examples of what empathetic listening can do for troubled people.

The movie was written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan best known for such movies as Body Heat, The Big Chill, The Accidental Tourist, Grand Canyon. Mumford is smaller-scale in scope than these movies, focussing on the character of Mumford who is played convincingly and with charm by Loren Dean (Billy Bathgate, Space Cowboys). The first forty minutes are practically all therapy sequences where a cast best known for character acting portray the clients. There follows an eight minute sequence where Mumford confides in Skip. The second half of the movie moves towards the resolution of all the problems. This is done comparatively quickly. More detail and expansion of the plot concerning Mumford's trial would have enhanced the movie.

Kasdan pokes some fun at the hang ups of professional helpers as they get tangled in their own problems. His sympathy lies with those who have suffered (though he takes a fairly light touch to most of the problems Mumford's clients experience). His main point is that those who really listen to what is being said and what is not being said are the true healers, empowering others to own their lives.

1. Entertaining drama? Psychological study of Mumford? Psychological studies of his clients? The plausibility of his behaviour, life choices, work and influence?

2. The town of Mumford, an ordinary American town, the streets, the homes, shops, cafes? Authentic atmosphere? The flashbacks to the cities, to the monastery? The musical score?
3. The irony of the title: the town, the dead boy, Mumford taking his name? Identifying with the town?

4. The opening: black and white, the sex fantasy, the style of film noir? The irony of it being the fantasy of the pharmacist? The later fantasies? The final fantasy with Althea in it - and his getting back to normal? People's fantasies, people's dreams, people's fears?

5. Mumford as a person: pleasant, calm, attentive, listening, empathetic? The ironies when he looked at the clock and the watch? His questions, his advice? His mistakes (especially telling Skip about the pharmacist and his fantasies)? His being willing to re-examine his stances? Strength of character, being all things to all people?

6. The confession after forty minutes of the film: his indiscretions in breaking confidentiality with Skip? Listening to Skip and his fantasy, building the computerised doll and sexual companion? His decision to tell Skip his story: his life in college, family, sex, drugs? His work with Inland Revenue, as an agent, his partner, the relationship with his partner's wife? Cocaine? His rehabilitation, the monastery, the monks' support? Walking out, the choice of the town of Mumford? His gift in listening to people?

7. Ordinary life in the town, the friendship with Lily, going to her restaurant, chatting as a neighbour? Her own problems of loneliness, men, the talk about the shower, her interest in Skip, her explanation of him, his visit to Mumford, hearing the shower, Mumford doing the introductions, the shared name of the dog, the meal, her inviting him in? Falling in love, dates? Skip confiding in her, her advice to Mumford to tell the truth and ride it out? Her work in the town, the Japanese tourists?

8. Skip, on the skateboard, his skills and genius, worth three billion, his factory, the whole town dependent on him for work? The modems and his being able to make them? His journeys, his loneliness, inability to relate? Enjoying talking with Mumford as a friend, yet the morale boost for the workers and not to let them know he was in therapy? Throwing ball? Confiding in Mumford, listening to his story? Meeting with Lily? The tour of the factory, going down and seeing the computerised doll? His confiding in Lily?

9. Althea and her fears, her therapy session, weeping? Going for the meal, her buying and hoarding? Her children concerned? Martin, his gun, his relationship with Nessa and talking with Mumford, his attraction towards her but wanting to change her? Althea's husband, his greed, the smoking of the cigar, motivation? His abandoning the family? Althea and her sessions, meeting the pharmacist, going to the shop, dating him? Her appearing in his fantasy? In the courtroom and their attraction? A future together?

10. Nessa, the rebellious schoolgirl, smoking, bored, silent, the magazines? Her discussions about Martin, criticising him - yet the relationship and its future?

11. Lionel, Mumford and the therapy, sending Lionel away? Lionel talking to the two psychiatrists? Their discussions with Mumford, the meal? Interested in different aspects of therapy and approaches? Phyllis and the relationship with the psychiatrist? Her sensitivity? The psychiatrist coming to Mumford, having the session, liking his approach, feeling liberated from Phyllis? Telling him that Phyllis had told the authorities? The authorities and their visit?

12. Sophie and her father, his approach in the shop, coming to the office, the chronic fatigue syndrome? Her horrible mother and her remarks? The kindly father? Sympathetic brother? The going for walks, her gaining strength, delivering the papers, up on the hills? The therapy, her transference, falling in love?

13. Robert Stack and the Unsolved Mysteries, Mumford watching them? His own story coming up, his sister's plea? His going to see Sophie, her reaction but still loving him? Her mother and her harshness?

14. The trial, his owning up, the statements by the judge, people of the town in support, Lionel working for him? The light sentence? Sophie and her waiting for him? His getting into the taxi, the irony of the cabbie wanting to tell his story?

15. A sympathetic portrait of somebody experiencing a conversion, willing to serve others, acknowledging his gift, the role of professional therapy (and the hang-ups of the therapists)? The commonsense therapy of listening and empathy?