THE OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION

US, 1998, 111 minutes, Colour.
Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Nigel Hawthorne, Tim Daley, Alan Alda, Alison Janney, John Pankow, Bruce Altman, Steve Zahn.
Directed by Nicholas Hytner.


Jennifer Aniston has a great following for Friends. Here she gives an attractive performance as a young pregnant woman who becomes friends with a gay teacher. The film explores, on a light and optimistic level, the complexities of friendship, love, marriage, parenting and affection in today's world and their differing effects, especially because of sexual orientation.

The film is boosted by a strong cast: Paul Rudd as the teacher, Alan Alda as an agent, Nigel Hawthorne as a reviewer. There are touches of farce, touches of romantic comedy and an opening up to the popular audience of issues of sexuality by way of people's stories rather than simply by issues.

An 'if only' comedy.

1. A romantic comedy with a difference?

2. The sensibility of the 1990s, issues, gender, orientations, sexuality, marriage, partnership, family, love and friendship, children?

3. The New York City settings, Manhattan, Brooklyn? The variety of venues?

4. The cast, their popularity? Their careers?

5. The title, the implications, love, friendship? The nature of affection? The musical score?

6. The introduction to George, at school, working with the special kids, the concert and the performance, his help, the audience response? Sidney and Constance and their admiration for him? His relationship with Dr Jolley? The invitation to the party, the chatter, the namedropping, self-promotion?

7. His seeing Nina, her New York background? with the group, the girls, the talk, social work, her methods?

8. The dinner guests and their talk, Sidney and Constance, Constance’s criticisms of Nina? Step-sister? Nina and George, the effect on each other? Phone numbers?

9. George, the relationship with Dr Jolley, the hurt, rationalisations, his leaving, the break, the emotion? The background of the years?

10. George, moving, friendship with Nina, the apartment, settling in, the meals, the bond? Mutual likes? The developing friendship, affection, sharing? The importance of dancing? The movies? Their bed talk? Television?

11. Vince, his character, relationship with Nina, the law, talking, dominating? Clash with George? Nina and the separation? Vince’s visits? His fatherhood and his claims? His antagonism? Constance, arrangements, the child, the visits, Vince? The food, Constance in control? George’s reactions?

12. George, the pregnancy, his decision, the revelation of the pregnancy, the reactions, convincing, his wanting to move in? At the school, the fair?

13. Nina George, the proposal together, the boy with the ball, Vince’s anger?

14. Dr Jolley phoning, the invitation, the apology, the drive, the university, the break-up, Nina and in the train?

15. George and Nina, the gym, the prospects?

16. The discussions about orientation, the consequences? Love? Affection, children and raising them? If only…?

17. The theatre, Rodney and his work as critic, his relationships? His acerbic comments? His partner, Paul, George and the attraction? The relationship,
the details of their meetings, Nina and her reaction? Rodney and his reaction? Tolerant?

18. The Thanksgiving dinner, Rodney as a guest, the emotional effect of Rodney and Nina talking, the empathy?

19. Nina having to face the truth, George and affection and friendship, but not the love that she wanted? The difficulty of accepting this?

20. 1990s film facing issues of sexuality, orientation, love and friendship?