THE SPACE BETWEEN

US, 2010, 90 minutes, Colour.
Melissa Leo, Anthony Keyvan, Brad William Henke, Anna Sophia Robb, Phillip Rhys.
Directed by Travis Fine.

The Space Between is a small film but well worth seeing. The central character, Montine, played effectively by Melissa Leo, says the space between is from the time of the last meeting with a person who has died until the time that grief is over.

The setting is New York, September 2001. A young Pakistani boy gets a scholarship to a school for bright students and leaves his father, a taxi driver who also works in a restaurant in the World Trade Centre, and goes to Los Angeles. The flight attendant who looks after him is Montine.

When they arrive, they see the visuals of the attack on the Twin Towers. There is chaos in Los Angeles. Officials are harassed and over-busy. The boy wants to go back to find his father. Montine, rather unwillingly and sometimes ungraciously, decides to take him back. They experience difficulties on the way, the boy with his strict Muslim customs, especially praying in the bus, and they are turned away from the bus. They hire a car and drive to New York. However, there is a detour, because Montine’s mother has died and she goes to see her brother.

The film is interesting in presenting aspects of Christianity, especially Montine’s brother as a pastor who has strayed and works with street people. He is a man of faith and there is discussion about God, evil, free will. The film also shows, with respect, Muslim customs. It also shows the bigotry, especially in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

The film gives a portrait of the two characters, each having suffered loss. A growing friendship grows between them, a mutual respect. In this way, the film is very helpful in dramatising prejudices in the United States and the need for understanding people, meeting them.

The film was written and directed by Travis Fine, an actor who directed a few films, left the industry to work as a pilot for American Airlines, but returned to writing and direction with The Space Between and Any Day Now.

1. A human and humane story? Particularly American? Post-9/11? Intercultural issues?

2. A modest story, audiences identifying with the story, the characters, the situations?

3. New York and Los Angeles, the trip across the United States? An American story? The range of people? Sympathy, bigotry, violence?

4. The contrast between Montine and her hard approach to life, their experience of loss and its effect with Omar, young, his religious background, his intelligence, his bond with his father, his sense of loss?

5. The introduction to Omar, his father and their prayer, the squabbling neighbours? The death of his mother? Clever, the interview and the offer of the place in the school for advanced students? The father refusing? Omar in the taxi with his father, the robbery? The father agreeing that Omar should go to the school? At the airport, Montine and the tag? Omar and his hiding in the toilet, the discussion with Montine? His falling asleep? Getting off and the plane empty?

6. Introduction to Montine, her job, her age, tough, the abusive passenger, complaining about the children and her quiet harsh words to him? The complaints about her? The authorities, their threats? Her relationship with the pilot, going to work? With Omar and the tag, on the plane, the toilet, finding him still in the plane?

7. The impact of 9/11, Los Angeles airport, the visuals on television, the people and their panic, the chaos, authorities?

8. Omar and Montine, together, his wanting to run away, wanting to get back to New York? Their being shuttled around by the authorities? Montine and her hard stances? Omar and the focus on his father, his talking about the special phone? The clashes between the two, the stubbornness of each? The reactions, Montine filling in the documents? Going on the bus, false information to her boss? Omar praying on the bus, the people staring, the driver’s hostility, their being ousted?

9. The food, Omar and his Muslim customs? The motel, the room? His not wanting Montine to touch him? The bed? His going to sleep? Talking with his father?

10. Montine, the background of her marriage, her husband’s death, 1995 and Oklahoma City disaster? Her mother, dying, not recognising her? Her visit to her brother, their discussions?

11. Buying the second-hand car, Omar and his mathematics, beating down the salesman? The drive across the United States, the music, talking, the different stories? Montine’s story and her not telling the direct truth to Omar?

12. Montine going to her family, her brother and his story, minister, his misbehaviour, his preaching to the street people? His daughter, her age, antagonism? The death of Montine’s mother? Prospects for the funeral, the tensions between brother and sister, her not wanting to come? Sam, her age, her resentments, going for a walk with Omar, the discussions about music? Omar and his being bashed, the young thugs in the town? Montine overhearing her brother explain the problem of evil, free will, God to Omar? His faith? Sam being rude to Montine? Montine forgiving her?

13. The discussion about the problem of evil, suffering? God, human choices, free will, the consequences? The effect on Montine?

14. Going to the New York apartment, discovering that Omar’s father was dead, the explanation of his phone calls? Packing, taking things from the apartment? The school authority and the future for Omar?

15. Montine and her change of attitude? Omar and his opening up? Montine, the future, Omar and school? Omar in the toilet again, Montine talking him out of it? Their final discussion, his appreciation?

16. Montine’s gift of the music and the earphones? Seeing Omar listening – and his opening up of attitudes?

17. A film like this contributing to American attitudes, worldwide, breaking down prejudices?