THIN ICE

US, 1981, 100 minutes, Colour.
Kate Jackson, Lillian Gish, Louise Latham.
Directed by Paul Aaron.

Thin Ice is an American telemovie, that deals with a relationship 18-year-old college boy and his teacher, in her mid-20s. What might be soap opera, is presented in a thoughtful way with Kate Jackson in the central role. There is also an interesting contribution by Lillian Gish as her grandmother and. Louise Latham as the scandalised mother of the boy.

It has a small-town setting with the prejudices and the criticism of the people. It shows them reacting to surface, whereas the audience appreciates the emiotional and moral dilemmas of the characters.

Direction is by Paul Aaron, a director of a diverse number of filims including the drama A Different Story and Chuck Norris in A Force of One.

1. The impact of the American telemovie: audience, treatment of personal problems, resolutions? For the widest audience?

2. Carolina settings, the small town, the sea and the boats? Te use of romantic songs and lyrics, especially in the sailing sequences?

3. The title, the reference?

4. The credibility of the plot and characters, the small town, the resolution?

5. Kate Jackson as Linda Rivers: as a widow, her relationship with her husband, his death? Her friends, the school staff, her contribution to the school, her history lessons? Her friendship with Paul, introducing him to her grandmother? Her teacher friend and reliance on her? Dating? Going sailing, enjoying Paul's company, the holiday atmosphere, falling in love? The beginning of the affair? Linda's comments on thinking and the consequences? Taking time to think, people's criticisms? Paul's mother and her visit? The head of the school and the board, interviews, disciplinary action? Her decision to take responsibility and shielding Paul? Her friend and not being able to rely on her? The lawyer, the grounds for the case, the dismissal, pay? Paul and his resolve? Going before the board, the ploys of the lawyer? The resolution? Her desire to teach? Paul's proposal? A future?

6. Paul and his age, at college, his family? his legless brother and helping him? His mother and her love, her concern about people's opinion, his differing from her, leaving home? His father and the friendship, his father's absence? Talking over the questions? His love of sailing, his friends, advice about marriage? Attraction towards Linda, taking her sailing, the falling in love, the affair, his taking responsibility, decisions, leaving home, his brother's support? Standing by Linda, later? The headmaster? His proposal?

7. His mother, husband, headmaster? approving? The ordinary mother, her concern, her two sons, the absence of concern about opinion, her feeling that she had to tell the The visit of Linda and her praising her courage while disapproving?

8. The brother, his accident, support?

9. Linda's friend and her not being involved, worry about her job? overhearing the school board talking and ringing the lawyer, giving her name?

10. Lillian Gish as the grandmother, strong woman, love for Linda, interest in Paul, moral support? The possibility of leaving the town?

11. Headmaster and his using discipline and laws? The school board and their standards, attitudes, bigotry? Their lawyer and his being challenged? Linda's lawyer and his shrewdness? Their talking in the restaurant, their being sued? The resolution of the affair? The power of letters of recommendation and the network of telephoning?

12. The theme of falling in love, the affair, consequences, difference of ages? Marriage? Commitment ?