SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA
US, 2011, 95 minutes, Colour.
Robert Duvall, Lucas Black, Melissa Leo, Kathy Baker, Brian Geraghty.
Directed by Matthew Dean Russell.
Seven Days in Utopia is a golf film, entertaining enough for non-golfers, but playing to the interests and experience of golfers. It is based on a novel by David L. Cook: Golf’s Sacred Journey, Seven Days at the Links of Utopia. He also wrote the screenplay.
The film also has a Christian basis, perhaps influenced by the number of films made by more Evangelical Christians after the success of The Passion of the Christ. There is Church-going, grace before meals, and some conversations which include understandings of God and some very hostile anti-religious blogs on the IMDb.
Lucas Black, in a more restrained role from those he usually does, plays a young golfer whose father has trained him from childhood and is his caddy. Failing in the tournament and breaking his clubs, he storms off and comes to a T Junction in the road, a town to the right, a town to the left. The town on the right is Utopia and that is the choice he makes. However, in his anger, he almost runs into a bull and drives off the road into a field, destroying his car.
The people of Utopia are particularly welcoming, Melissa Leo in a gentle and restrained role as the manager of the diner, Kathy Baker as the manager of the hotel. But the main reason for this film is Robert Duval, over 80, still his same screen persona, chuckling, respectful and cook calling people Sir, a reformed alcoholic who had driven away his wife, but had come to Utopia, found people friendly, given up the drinking. He takes pity on the young golfer, remembering his own career, and over the week takes him for a wide range of lessons, not always with golf clubs, sometimes painting his imagination of the flight of the ball, putting hoops into holes, controlled fly-fishing, doing exercises…
At the end of the week, a much changed man, more in control of himself and his angers, acknowledging his reaction to his father, he is entered into Texas tournament where he plays against a strong T.K. Choi, even to at the last hole, using all that he has learnt: see, feel, trust.
A good-natured film and a pleasure to see Robert Duval at his age, still a substantial presence on screen.
1. A golf film? Inspirational film?
2. The Christian dimensions, the language of God in prayer, church? Title and its tone? Hope?
3. The Texas settings, the open roads, Utopia itself, the small town, the diner, the motel, the golf courses, the river? Realism? The musical score?
4. Luke, playing golf, his anger, breaking his clubs, his father walking away, driving away, the choice of towns at the T-junction, distracted, the bull, crashing the car?
5. Meeting Johnny, driving with him, talking, going to the diner, meeting Lily, her daughter, Jake and his friends? Mabel at the hotel, straight talking? An impression of Utopia?
6. Luke’s character, anger, the flashbacks to his father training him, his father’s domination? His talent, his ambition? His discussions with Johnny?
7. Johnny story, champion, his photos and trophies in his room, Luke examining them? Johnny’s drinking, his wife, her leaving? His coming to Utopia, deciding to stay?
8. The fair, Lily’s daughter, the competition with Jake, and Luke winning?
9. Johnny and his offer, the experiences: the fly-fishing and control, sketching the scene and the travelling of the golf ball, accuracy and throwing into the holes, sense of balance, the different clubs? Seeing, feeling, trusting?
10. Jake, nasty, with Lily’s daughter, flirting, her rejection, the competition with the holes, being beaten at the fair, his change of heart?
11. Johnny as peacemaker between the young men?
12. The girl, being a horse whisperer, Luke going riding with her, the bonds between them?
13. Johnny, entering Luke in the competition? Johnny going to church? The soundness of this advice, Christian principles?
14. The competition, the actual golfer in the competition, Luke putting into practice what Johnny taught him, the initial failure? His father and his talking with him, the reconciliation? Luke and his winning?
