A WALK TO REMEMBER
US, 2002, 101 minutes, Colour.
Shane West, Mandy Moore, Peter Coyote, Daryl Hannah, Lauren German.
Directed by Adam Shankman.
I often hear people say that film producers should make more 'wholesome' films, films that anyone could see, especially families. Easier said than done. And, when a film that matches up to expectations is released, audiences do not support it by buying tickets. A number of film-makers in the US, often with the financial backing of religious groups or churches, have made films like The Spitfire Grill or the recent Joshua film. A Walk to Remember is the latest of the films that have been made to appeal to families, especially in the American bible belt.
It has reasonable credentials. Shane West is a popular television actor and Mandy Moore has a strong reputation as a singer. The director, Adam Shankman, made The Wedding Planner. Veterans Peter Coyote and Daryl Hannah lead the adult cast.
The plot is one that families can identify with. Students at a North Carolina High School urge a classmate to leap from a tower into a river. When he is severely injured, one of the young men who dared the jumper is given a punishment which requires him to be a tutor to underprivileged children. There he comes across the daughter of the local pastor, an intelligent but reserved girl who dresses in a dowdy manner and is looked down on by other students, especially because of her unembarrassed Christian faith. When part of his tutoring requires him to take part in a play, he asks the girl to help him. You can almost guess the rest which is a mixture of happiness and tears.
The film is very strong on traditional values of love, marriage and family.
The film was quite well received in the United States by its intended audience. However, I am not sure it travels so well outside America. It is not the values which are well worthwhile but, rather, the obvious way in which they are presented. The drama is nice but not particularly challenging. Audiences who experience life as more complex, problems more tangled, a mixture of the good and the evil may find this film too bland. The other issue is sentiment. Americans are far more extravert in their expressions of feelings. They proudly (and sometimes loudly) wear their heart on their sleeves. This can alienate non-American audiences who find the film too gushy or sentimental for their taste.
I found A Walk to Remember, which I saw in the United States as part of a national Catholic media conference, disappointing as drama and too emotional. On the other hand, it might be just the film for a family to see together or to use with school groups for discussion. No matter how worthy the subject, we still need engaging and dramatic treatment of the themes to become involved. It is still a big challenge to make serious quality family films.
The was based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks who had drawn attention with the film version of Message and a Bottle – and then was to be popular over several years with such film versions as The Notebook, Night in Rodanthe, Dear John, The Best of Me, The Choice.
1. The impact of the film? Target audience? Fans of Nicholas Sparks’ novels? Younger, older? Story, characters, values?
2. North Carolina, homes, school, the church, the countryside, hospitals? The musical score?
3. The focus on Landon Carter, his age, reputation at school, the drinking, the severe pranks, the injury, the punishment, his role as a tutor, with children, the play, the rehearsals?
4. Jamie, Mandy Moore, screen presence, age, daughter of the minister, plain clothes, dowdy, unnoticed? No make up, seen as the nerd, the outsider? Her being in the play?
5. Landon, the relationship with Jamie, no affinity with her, having to work in the play, her stating he was not to fall in love with her, his image with his friends, the secret friendship with Jamie, her response, from friendship to touches of love?
6. The play, the rehearsals, the performance, Jamie singing? The impact? Landon and his response, the kiss? His friends, the further pranks? Landon, inviting Jamie on a date, her father being strict and not approving of Landon? The religious background? The character of her father, her mother? Her place in the family? Jamie reluctant, Landon’s motivations, his affirming Jamie?
7. Going on a date, her wanting to be in two places at once, the issue of the tattoo? Discussions, her explanations about her experience of belief, like the wind? Allowing Landon to kiss her? The further dates, the revelation about her leukaemia, Landon and his concern?
8. The change in Landon, his support for Jamie? The gift of her mother’s book?
9. Landon, his own father, the clashes, coming together?
10. The telescope, looking at the comet, leading to the proposal, the wedding and the venue, those present, the joy? The buildup of Jamie’s illness? Her death?
11. The background of supporting characters, at school, the play, family, relatives and friends, the hospital, the doctors?
12. Four years passing, Landon and his studies, returning the book to Jamie’s father, his change of perspective on Landon, the regret that there was no miracle – and the fact that Landon was a miracle for Jamie in her illness and death?
13. Love like the wind, feeling it but not seeing it?
