HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK
US, 1998, 124 minutes, Colour.
Angela Bassett, Taye Diggs, Whoopi Goldberg , Regina King, Suzzanne Douglas, Victor Garber.
Directed by Kevin Rodney Johnson.
The novels of Terry Mc Millan were very popular in the 1990s, especially among women readers, with a target of African- American women readers. At this time there was also a film version of her novel, Waiting to Exhale.
Terry Mc Millan wrote the screenplay for this film, focusing on an affluent world, a very competent businesswoman, Stella, Angela Bassett, divorced and with a son, using her skills in a Wall Street context, but feeling tired, looks at it advertisement on television for a holiday in Jamaica and sees herself. She decides to go.
Her best friend is played by Whoopi Goldberg who encourages her in a mindset for having an affair. When a 20-year-old, Winston, played with charm by Taye Digges, approaches her at breakfast, she allows herself to be smitten and begins the affair. He has been a medical student but wants to be a chef. With some misunderstandings, she goes back home, but he gets in touch again and she returns to Jamaica and the affair. He takes her to see his parents but his mother is very insulting to Stella.
With sudden news of Whoopi Goldberg’s terminal illness, she speaks at her funeral about her best friend and then sees Winston at the funeral. He makes good friends with her son, but she is fairly bossy and at times comments on how he reacts as a boy. The screenplay continually emphasises the age difference and, ultimately, this is too much for Winston. But this is a glossy story and there is a happy ending.
1. The popularity of the novels by Terry Mc Millan? An adaptation for the screen? Targeted for a women’s audience? African- American? Worldwide?
2. Glossy production, New York City, the stock exchange, lavish homes, hospital, streets of New York? Jamaica, the hotel, the sea, parties, the kitchen? The doctor’s mansion? The airport? Audiences identifying with the characters and settings?
3. The title, Stella as the focus, her original groove? Her husband and son, the divorce, the lavish homes, her son, the bond between them? At work, financial advice, Stella relied on, the issue of mergers? Delilah as her best friend? The relationship with her sisters, the ambulance sister, the pregnant sister? Working hard, the television, ad for Jamaica and seeing herself in the ad?
4. Her decision to go to Jamaica? Quincy with her sister? Arrival, with Delilah, chat, focus on sex, possibilities and the affair mentality, the luxury hotel?
5. Winston, his look, age, explanation of his name, his study in biology, the possibility for medical school? Inviting himself to breakfast with Stella? The talk, the attraction, swimming, communicating? Invitation to the party, the dressing up, dancing, the kiss, his room, the sexual encounter, the effect, talking with Delilah?
6. Winston, his wanting to be a chef, the phone calls, not answering, Stella return home?
7. Stella at home, going to the office, her boss, being fired? Her response? Quincy and his support? The background of her wanting to make furniture, the furniture in the garage? The influence of the parents on her career?
8. Winston’s call, her return? Their affair? His taking her to his parents, lack of preparation, the mother and her directness, the insult, being upset, leaving?
9. The phone call about Delilah, Delilah not telling her about her cancer, Delilah in hospital, the visit, the best friend, the deaths? The funeral and her speaking on behalf Delilah? Winston arriving?
10. The new offer to Stella for a job and her turning it down?
11. The connection with Winston, Quincy and his liking Winston, the constant focus on the age difference, Stella treating Winston as an adult, as a boy?
The party, meeting the family, the ex-husband saying how Stella was bossy? The meal, his wanting to pay like a man, Stella wanting to pay, his payment, urging her to leave the tip? His going into the garage, furniture and hope for Stella? His playing videogames, the outings with Quincy? The choice of videos and Stella’s criticism?
12. Angela, the talk, pregnant, birth? Stella clashing with her, Angela backing down? Vanessa and her curiosity?
13. Winston, his decision to leave, to start his medical studies, goodbye to consider, goodbye to Stella? The taxi to the airport, his arrival, Stella present, the love?
14. Themes of love, age differences and how important?
