LANDLINE

US, 2017, 97 minutes, Colour.
Jenny Slate, Jay Duplass, Abby Quinn, John Turturro, Edie Falco, Finn Witrock.
Directed by Gillian Robespierre.

The commentator pointed out that 1990s was the last time people could smoke inside – and it was the era before the constant use of mobile phones. This film recreates that 1990s in New York, a time of permissive behaviour and troubled attitudes.

The focus is on three sisters, adults, the tensions in their relationships, ups and downs, the relationships with men, fidelity and infidelity, the nature of temptation, testing, possibilities of forgiveness and reconciliation.

However, the main focus is on the parents, played by John Turturro and Edie Falco. The daughters discovered that their father is having an affair. This has unexpected repercussions on their outlook on commitment and fidelity. The father is reluctant to talk about his affair. The mother suffers and his bewildered.

The title is interesting in terms of phones and communication, the stability of landline, and this kind of talking as a means of understanding and reconciliation.

1. The title? Communication? Communication within the family?

2. New York City, the settings, homes and apartments, the countryside? Bars, restaurants, theatre? The musical score?

3. The setting in the 1990s? Behaviour, morals and mores? The frank dialogue and issues?

4. The picture of the family? The interactions between the parents? Two daughters? Bonds, experiences of alienation? Dana, the opening, the sexual encounter with Ben, engaged to him, her life and work, the encounter with Nate, the reaction, the affair? Away from home? Trying to sort out matters, discussions with friends and her sister? Her sexual drives and control? The clashes with her sister, going to the country house, the encounter with her sister and the boyfriend? Their bonding, the swimming pool, Dana being protective?

5. Ali, the younger daughter, with her boyfriend, drugs? The severity of her mother? The father being more obliging? Her relationship with her mother, the clash, moving away from home? Bonding with her sister? Their talking together? The mother, tough, the rules, her image of her husband, criticisms of him?

6. The father, his job in writing copy, at home, writing the play, the reading? Carla in the play? His relationship with her? The daughters realising the truth? Following him? Confronted by his wife, her knowledge, his confessing?

7. Dana, the restaurant, the birthday party? Her telling Ben the truth, his being hurt, a reconciliation, the future?

8. The final aspects of the film, the family gathering, inviting the father, the friendliness of the cook? An optimistic glance of the family together? The future?