GRANDMA
US, 2015, 79 minutes, Colour.
Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Sam Elliott, Judy Greer, John Cho, Nat Wolff, Laverne Cox, Elizabeth Peña, Colleen Camp, Sarah Burns, Judy Geeson..
Directed by Paul Weitz.
Grandma is an opportunity for Lily Tomlin to make a striking screen presence, building on a long career with such films as Nashville and Nine to Five, and a continuous satiric presence on television. Here she plays a 70 something-year-old academic, poet, breaking up with a younger girlfriend, Judy Greer, and morning her partner, Violet, of 38 years. She is trying to make a clean break.
Buckley, her granddaughter, Sage, Julia Garner, turns up wanting to borrow $600 for an abortion. grandma does not have the money and so they go on a quest. for pro-choice audiences, this is a straightforward drama with comic overtones. For those who do not approve of abortion, either they will be completely against the film or they will acknowledge the reality of the situation in the world today and try to understand and appreciate what is happening with the characters.
Grandma and Sage visit the very offhand father of the child, Nat Wolff, and he did gets a well-deserved hockey stick beating in a tender part of his anatomy. there is a visit to a transgender tattooists, Laverne Cox, a friendly visit but no money. grandma also attempts to sell some first and signed additions of feminist literature to a cafe owner, Elizabeth Peña, but no deal. grandma also visits her husband of almost 50 years earlier – she had had an abortion, con to live with her lover and conceived by artificial means – a very good performance from Sam Elliott.
Eventually they go to meet Sage’s mother, Marcio Gay Harden, Patel businesswoman who does give the money. There is a bit visit to the clinic, the young daughter of a protester against abortion punching grandma in the eye, Sage going to a counsellor to discuss her free choice about the abortion. On the way home, grandma calls into see Olivia, the rejected young lover (and a cameo by Judy G’s and as Olivia’s mother).
The film was directed and written by Paul Weitz, who has had a very career from American High to About a Boy, In Good Company.
1. The title, the focus on Elle? Sage’s perspective on her grandmother? The picture of the generations, similarities and differences?
2. An LA story, the apartments, streets, cafe, tattoo parlour, offices, the abortion clinic? The musical score?
3. The structure of the film: the different chapters, the headings and their indications of meaning?
4. The abortion issue, the fact of abortion, pro and con, taken for granted by the characters? The protester outside the clinic and the little girl punching Elle? Abortion as a decision, to
be thought about, the effect for the rest of one’s life?
5. The film and relationships, the lesbian focus, the lesbian story, Elle, a relationship with Olivia, the memories of Violet, the transgender tattooists?
6. Elle, age, tough, the opening and her treatment of Olivia, harshness, ousting her? A cranky woman? Tidying up? Cutting up her credit card for a mobile? Her plans, cutting her losses? Her poetry, the past, her academic life, her being a visiting writer and the repercussions?
7. Sage, young, her age, the situation, the pregnancy and Cam, his callous behaviour and attitudes? Her needing the money? Fearing her mother? Going to grandmother, presuming on her? Her immaturity, slow on the uptake, her hopes, coping with the pregnancy, thinking about its effect and her future life?
8. Going to Cam, his obnoxious personality, abusive language, grandma hitting him with a hockey stick?
9. Going to the tattooists, friends, the transgender woman, a genial visit, but no money?
10. The decision to sell her first editions, going to the cafe, Olivia working there, no sale – and the customer wanting her sauce?
11. Going to visit her former husband? His promise that he would do anything for her? The revelation about the past, the marriage, abandoning him, pregnancy and abortion, in vitro
fertilisation? Life with violet for 38 years? Not aborting the second child? His wanting a kiss, his wanting an apology – but his firm stance against an abortion?
12. Sage and her mother, her mother as a dominant character, brought up by the two grandmothers, Violet and her kindness to her? The treadmill desk, her abrupt manner, assistants, business meetings, giving the money? Trying to bond with her daughter? Going to the clinic, support, driving her home?
13. Grandma’s car, the breakdown, service? Going to the clinic, speeding and impatience, the car giving out? Hitchhiking, the couple, the very rude boy to his father?
14. The clinic, the protester, the little girl, Elle’s kindness, being punched in the eye? The nurse, the procedures, Elle being tough, the nurse being well-mannered?
15. Sage emerging, the preparation for the abortion, coming back later?
16. Elle going to Olivia’s house, giving her the books, meeting her parents, the mother quoting the poem?
17. No taxi, Elle walking home, tough – and into what future?
