THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO
US, 1998, 113 minutes, Colour.
Chloe Sevigny, Kate Beckinsale, Chris Eigeman, Mackenzie Aston, Matt Keeslar, Robert Sean Leonard, Jennifer Beals, Matt Ross, Tara Subkoff, Burr Steers, David Thornton, George Plimpton.
Directed by Whit Stillman.
A different mood piece. Walt Stillman has shown with his elegant, sometimes eloquent, glimpses of a generation that aspires to social standing and success (in his Metropolitan and Barcelona), that he is a chronicler of the affectations and alienations of thirtysomethings. The same here with a setting of New York in the early 80s as the disco fad was dying and the proliferation of drugs was giving it a bad name. Yet, for those caught up in it, the Reaganite yuppies, it is remembered (and re-created here) with great affection. Which may limit its appeal to those who were not part of it and who may, in fact, find the culture quite pretentious and empty.
The lead performances, especially British Kate Beckinsale as the perfect embodiment of the self-absorbed and destructive character and Chloe Sevigny as the would-be yuppy whose innate sincerity cannot ultimately survive in this disco world, give the film added strength. Re-assessing an era.
1. Memories of the 1980s from the 1990s? The title?
2. The director, his style, society and characters, literate, music, the score?
3. Life at the club, the clientele, society, the disco music, dancing? The owner, manager, the workers there? The raid on the club?
4. The story of Alice and Charlotte, their characters, friendship from the past, this studies together? Readers at the publishing house? There after-hours life, going to the disco, their relationships, ups and downs?
5. Alice, her personality, more quiet? The interest in Jimmy? Des? Jimmy and his clients, refused entry to the club? The character of Tom, work, confidences? Holly, her personality, living with Alice and Charlotte? The relationships between Alice, Charlotte and Jimmy? Tom and his night with Alice, talking about his girlfriend, returning to her? Des and his interest in Alice?
6. The book, the Dalai Lama’s brother, Charlotte rejecting it, Alice supporting it? The revelation about the author? The quality of the book?
7. Alice, Charlotte saying Alice had gonorrhoea, the effects? Des and his continued pursuit? Alice and Tom, the gonorrhoea, his telling the truth, his giving her herpes?
8. The character of Josh, DA, interest in the book pitch, pursuing Alice?
9. Charlotte, the miscarriage, hospital, the clash with Alice?
10. The raid on the club, Des on the run, Josh and the offer of help from the law? The clientele, the sales of records going down?
11. The merger of the company, the consequences for the employees, their jobs? Alice and her promotion?
12. The buildup to the lunch, the discussion about big personalities and normal personalities, issues of relationship and monogamous relationships, the different perspectives between Alice and Charlotte?
13. On the subway, Josh and Alice discussing their future, the music beginning, everybody beginning to dance, “Love Train”?
