THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL

US, 1985, 108 minutes, Colour.
Geraldine Page, Carlin Glynn, John Heard, Rebecca de Mornay, Richard Bradford.
Directed by Peter Masterson.

The Trip to Bountiful was a play written by Horton Foote (writer of the screenplay of To Kill a Mockingbird, Oscar winner for Tender Mercies, writer of Baby the Rain Must Fall). He has a knowledge of the Texas way of life and its humanity.

Geraldine Page won an Oscar for her performance as Carrie, an award that was the culmination of three decades of fine screen and stage acting (Hondo, Sweet Bird of Youth, Interiors). She is well supported by John Heard as her convalescing son, by Carlin Glynn as her bossy daughter-in-law, by Rebecca de Mornay as an attractive, young bride who accompanies her on the bus to Bountiful. The film is wordy, but has a great deal to say about life, ageing, generation gaps, memories. The film is a significant portrait of old age as well as a glimpse of someone living with memories and coming to terms with them.

1. The appeal of the film? Its humanity? A piece of Americana? Its acclaim?

2. Texas in the 1940s, Houston, the countryside, old Bountiful? A road film: buses, cars? The old towns, old homesteads? Atmosphere? The musical score, the use of contemporary songs?

3. The work of Horton Foote, his Texas background, Texas memories? Nostalgia, understanding? Family and relationships? The original play and its being opened out, distinct acts, the use of words and speeches?

4. The journey and the indication by the title, the Texas roads, bus, the Journey of life, the journey back to the past? The town and its ironic name? Prosperity and change?

5. The situation in the apartment: Carrie, her age, 20 years with her son and daughter-in-law, her love for Ludie, her clashes with Jessle Mae, the tensions in the apartment? Sleeplessness, memories, talking with Ludie, caring for him? Jessie Mae and her criticisms? The daylight, Carrie being oppressed and shrewd? Concealing herpension cheq~ue? Doing the housework, being warned not to run, picking up the recipe and having to apologise to Jessie Mae? The keeping of the peace? her tantrums? Her putting on her heart act?-, Pretending to write the letter?

6. The trip to Bountiful: packing, Jessie Maels return and her cover-up, enquiries at the train, the bus, the fares? The encounter with Thelma, hiding from Ludie and Jessie Mae? The trip, talking to Thelma and her living her memories, explaining her marriage and its lack of love? The friend (and the irony of her death the day before)? Getting off the bus, losing her purse? The sheriff? The bus attendant? Sleeping at the station? Explanations, the sheriff deciding to take her to Bountiful? Ludie's? The drive, the walk, sitting, revisiting, remembering, arrival and her sharing with him? The truce with Jessie-Mae? Her returning home, satisfied? The getting in touch with her roots, putting her memories in perspective, getting the strength to go on?

7. The portrait of a woman, her experience, past, her father, work, hands in the soil, prosperity? The importance of her religion? Her prayers, her continual singing of hymns? The thematic use of hymns throughout the film? The death of her children? Ludie, love, burden? Coping with ageing? A good woman? Her values, image of God?

8. Ludie and his love for his mother, his illness, the 15 years marriage to Jessie Mae? The work, needing a job, asking for a raise? Talking with his mother, tense, taking Jessie Mae's side? Search for her at the station? Chasing her by car? The meeting at Bountiful, listening, learning, achieving some peace?

9. Jessie Mae and her self-centred style, appearance, clothes, hair styles? Phone calls? Her attitude towards Ludie? Anger with her mother-in-law? Wanting the money, the pension cheque? Picking on Carrie, telling her not to run, forbidding her to sing hymns? Her going out, choice of clothes, the girlfriend, chatting, visiting? her concern about Carrie's heart condition? Searching her at the station? Asking Thelma? At Bountiful, fussy, the truce and her pledge? Portrait of an ordinary if self-centred woman?

10. Thelma as an attractive young bride, her love for her husband, his absence, going home to her parents, helping Carrie at the station, the talk with Ludie and Jessie Mae, listening to Carrie on the bus, the hymns? Her leaving?

11. The man at the bus station, talk, help? The sheriff, his decisions, driving Carrie to Bountiful?

12. The portrait of relationships, love, tensions? journey to one's roots? Meaning in life?