HEARTBREAKERS
US, 1984, 98 minutes, Colour.
Peter Coyote, Margot Kidder, Nick Mancuso, Carol Laure, James Laurenson, Max Gail, Kathryn Harrold.
Directed by Bobby Roth.
Heartbreakers is about male mid-life crises in their emotional lives and in their careers. Peter Coyote plays a flamboyant artist, while Nick Mancuso is a much more subdued businessman. The men are close friends, one lending the other money for his artistic career. There are crises, betrayals, a re-evaluation of friendship and stances. The film reflects the more permissive society of the '80s.
1.The title? Relationships between men and women? Friendships between men? Sex and relationships?
2.The world of Los Angeles, apartments, the art world, business, hospitals? The musical score?
3.Themes of friendship, career, meaning and life, relationships? Crises and coping?
4.Blue as the artist, the critics and their comments on his former exhibition? His relationship with Cyd and the breaking up? The friendship with Eli, the bonds between the two, friendship, money? Their sharing the details of their life? His observing Eli, his sexual relationships? Blue and women, the fetish and the paintings? The relationship with Candy, friendship with her? The agreement for the exhibition? His paintings, going to see Cyd and her boyfriend, the clash? The lies? The drinking at the boyfriend's exhibition? Going with Eli to Candy, the sexual experience together? Lilliane and her friendship with Eli? The exhibition, the success, the critics on his side, favourable interviews? The reconciliation with the artist? The sexual encounter with Lilliane? Telling Eli, his weeping and collapsing?
Hatreds and jealousies, the fight, the reconciliation?
5.Eli and his Jewish background, his name, the illness of his father, his care for him, the death and the funeral? Blue and Cyd present? His friendship with women? More reserved? Blue, the money, observation of his paintings? The infatuation with Cyd after she became Blue's girlfriend? The friendship with Libby? His uncertainties in relationship with her? Going out with Blue, meeting Candy, the evening together? Meeting Lilliane, following her about, to the aerobics class, her provocative manner, his relationship? The exhibition, his waiting outside? The jealousy, the fight and reconciliation?
6.Cyd and her relationship withy Blue, her lies, the decision to leave? Denouncing his work, lack of passion? Going with the artist? Blue coming and pleading with her? Her posing for the paintings? Her clients? With Blue and Eli? Her presence at the exhibition?
7.Lilliane and her hostility, her work in the gallery, aerobics class, Eli following her, coming on strongly to him? The bond between the two? Clashes with Blue, the exhibition, the sexual encounter?
8.The gallery, the director, the offer and the contract, singing The Pirates of Penzance? The critic and his change of attitude?
9.Middle-aged men, their values, lifestyle, experiences, 35 and crises and decisions?
