HIGH FIDELITY

US, 1999, 113 minutes, Colour.
John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso, Jack Black, Lisa Bonet, Catherine Zeta- Jones, Joan Cusack, Tim Robbins, Lili Taylor.
Directed by Stephen Frears.

High Fidelity is based on a novel by Britain’s Nick Hornby, author of About A Boy, Fever Pitch. It has been transferred to Chicago with an American flavour. However, it has been directed by British director, Stephen Frears, a prolific director for over 40 years, including Dangerous Liaisons, The Grifters, Philomena…

The setting is a music shop with several enthusiastic men, two of whom are quite nerdish, trying to sell records in line with their own taste. Part of the game is to create lists of their favourite records and musicians. But, Rob, the owner of the shop, indulging in the lists, also has a list of his most important relational break-ups. This provides the opportunity for flashbacks for these relationships as well as his attempt to contact all the women again to discover why they left him. The most permanent relationship is his present one with Laura, Iben Hjejle, but which is also in danger as she packs up and leaves him. Rob’s mother is on her side. So, also is her friend Liz who tries to talk sense into Rob. Some of the other women are portrayed by Catherine Zeta -Jones and Lili Taylor.

Also in the forefront is Jack Black, giving an indication of the type of rough comic performances he would give over the coming years. Todd Louiso is the well-informed but awkward Dick.

Audiences who are of Rob’s age in the film will probably enjoy it, make comparisons with their own lives and relationships – and even their tastes in music.

1. A popular film? Fans of popular music? The novel by Nick Hornby, British, transferred to the United States?

2. The title, music and its sound, themes?

3. Chicago, the city, apartments, clubs, the music shop?

4. The music, audience taste, the variety, trends and styles, lyrics, lists and interests? The comic responses?

5. Rob, John Cusack’s performance, talking straight to camera? His age, experience, his relationship with Laura, her leaving? His range of lists? Especially about women and relationships? About music? His break-ups, going back into the past, at school, at college, Charlie, the two years, Sarah, the singer Marie? The encounters, the times, their leaving him, the effect on him?

6. His decision to re-visit, the girls, their mothers, and the truth, his reactions, Charlie and her flightiness, Sarah and her intensity and moving out, not wanting to see him again? The time with Marie?

7. The interactions with Laura, his mother’s comments, Liz and her friendship with Laura? Confronting Rob? Angers, Laura returning to take things, the talk, the death of her father, sadness? Making up, her needs, his needs? The credibility?

8. The lists of the music, Barry and Dick, their personalities, the Jack Black cheeky style, Dick and his being a nerd, but well informed? Barry and his aggression? Dealing with customers, sending them out if they disagreed with them, the father wanting to give a record to his daughter?

9. The customers, the reactions, insults, not selling some of the discs – but keeping them for later customers?

10. Laura and Ray, his character, neighbour, with Laura, going to the shop, Rob imagining dealing with him violently, the reality and his leaving?

11. The opportunity for the youngsters, their song, age, their look, their music, interactions, the contrast, producing the song, playing it?

12. Barry, his success with the music, unexpected?

13. Characters of the 1990s, music, old-time music stores? Relationships? Men and women? Success and failures?