NEXT STOP WONDERLAND
US, 1998, 104 minutes, Colour.
Hope Davis, Alan Gelfant, Holland Taylor, Victor Argo, Robert Klein, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Roger Rees, Jose Zuniga.
Directed by Brad Anderson.
Next Stop Wonderland is a portrait of two people who do not meet until the end and find that they are probably right for each other.
Hope Davis portrays a middle-aged woman whose boyfriend walks out on her, an enthusiast for protests (Philip Seymour Hoffman). She works at a hospital, has a visit from her ambitious mother (Holland Taylor) who is a freewheeling talent agent who puts an advertisement on a dating site for her daughter. Many rejections. However, she meets a Brazilian musician at the hospital, enjoys his company and prepares to go with him to Brazil – but at the last moment, she decides not to go to the airport, brushing against the stranger in a very crowded train – and he seems to be Mr Right.
Alan Gelfant is a plumber who works at the aquarium in Boston and does night courses at which he excels. He is entangled for his study fees with some local politicians and gangsters. And one of his fellow students puts pressure on him for a relationship. But, on the train, he meets the woman who probably fulfils his hopes.
Director Brad Anderson has made varied films including Trans- Siberian Express and The Call.
1. A mid-life story, relationships, love, identity? Seeking some kind of fulfilment and meaning?
2. The title, the tone, Wonderland as a general name? As a station in Boston?
3. Boston, the city, hospital, the aquarium, restaurants, the streets? The beach? The musical score?
4. Two portraits, separate, meeting at the end?
5. The portrait of Erin, Hope Davis, her performance? Age, experience, the departure of her partner, the emotional effect, alone, reading her father’s poems, memories of her father? The visit of her mother, outgoing, an agent, pressuring her daughter? Putting in the advertisement for dating? The dates and rejection? Her resistance? Meeting the Brazilian at the hospital, the injection, talking, the music, going on a date, enjoying it, the plan to leave with him for Brazil? Going to the airport, harassment, the taxi, John’s return and his talk about his demonstrations, leaving him? The crowded train? Getting out to the airport or not? Meeting Alan, going with him, talking, sitting watching the beach, contemplating, poetic? Her future?
6. Alan? His friends, social life, his financial difficulties, the loan, the gangsters and the politics? His studies? The lecture, his answering every question? His work at the aquarium, love for the fish, his past as a plumber, doing that work? The fellow student, companionship, flirting, tutoring her, ignoring her, talking about other things, the sexual encounter? The encounter with the gangsters, giving the cheque, its being torn up? The presumption that he was their puppet? On the train, the encounter with Erin? Taking her to the beach, the poetry, contemplation, a future?
7. The sketch of Erin’s mother, outgoing, society, toyboys, agency? Putting in the ad?
8. The staff at the hospital? Interactions with Erin, the work?
9. The Brazilian, the injection, his music, attracted, talking, going out, the plan to leave? On the plane, flirting with the girl in the next seat? The music?
10. The gangsters, their wanting to build, the aquarium, property? Threats to Alan?
11. The overall experience of these characters, human needs, the romantic in them, finding the true partner?
