FIVE NIGHTS IN MAINE
US, 2015, 82 minutes, Colour.
David Oyelowo, Dianne Wiest, Rosie Perez, Hani Furstenberg, Bill Raymond.
Directed by Maris Curran.
This is a brief film about grief. It opens with some scenes of intimacy between husband and wife, Sherwin and Fiona. Sherwin is played by the versatile actor David Oyelowo, Fiona by Hani Furstenberg. There is love, there are some tensions seen in a karaoke scene, Fiona’s drinking, issues of pregnancy – then the phone call announcing her death in a car accident.
Sherwin receives an invitation to go to Maine to visit his mother-in-law. He is welcomed by Ann, Rosie Pérez, who acts as a considerate carer for the mother-in-law, Lucinda, a fine performance from Dianne Wiest. Lucinda has had a tense relationship with her daughter, upset at her daughter wanting to be special, marrying Sherwin, antagonism during a recent visit.
Which raises the issues at the back of Fiona’s accident, the tension with her mother, her relationship with Sherwin, her drinking, issue of pregnancy.
The film is strong on dialogue, the conversations between Sherwin and Lucinda, her bitterness, suffering from cancer, attitudes towards her daughter, towards Sherwin and her disapproval. (There is no explicit mention of racial difference.)
Sherwin has a mixed experience in Maine, walking in the woods and swimming, hearing shots and believing he was being shot at, cooking and making meals for Lucinda, the ups and downs of their conversations, her bitterness, but her final attempt at an apology and urging him not to remain closed in the past.
1. A film about grief?
2. The American city, the drive through the states and countryside, Maine, the homes, the woods, lake? The musical score? The final song and its tone?
3. The opening, the relationship between Fiona and Sherwin, love, the buildup of the flashbacks, the karaoke night, tension about pregnancy, her drinking?
4. Sherwin, the phone call, the shock, grief, his sister and support? The nature of the accident? The question as to whether Fiona was drinking? Depressed?
5. Sherwin, his age, character, the extent of his grief, alone, his having to be roused and to be active, the funeral director, bringing the ashes?
6. The phone call, the invitation to go to Maine, his attitude towards Lucinda, Lucinda’s influence on her daughter?
7. The welcome by Ann? her role in the house, care for Lucinda, genial, helping Sherwin, helping with the cooking, the cleaning, companion for Lucinda? Conversations with Sherwin? His finding her in the night to help with Lucinda?
8. Lucinda, age, cancer, her wariness of Sherwin? Bitterness, yet polite? Caustic comments? Her age, widow, not getting over her husband’s
death? The influence on Fiona? Her condemnation of Fiona’s wanting to be special? Her questions about Fiona, drinking, her death? Lucinda telling Sherwin Fiona wanted to become pregnant? The ups and downs of the relationship, her illness, lunches with Sherwin, his cooking, conversations? Her bitter criticisms? Her getting up, the final drive with him, her attempt an apology?
9. Sherwin, the five nights, the effect on him, grief, memories, tears? The conversation with George and the stories of the past? Lucinda telling George’s story and joke? His walk in the woods, the shots, his running, injury, Ann helping him? Swimming and going underwater? Time, conversations, the ashes and Lucinda taking the handful? His lying to her about the ashes?
10. Time to go home, the effect of the experience on Sherwin, his relationship with Lucinda? Her encouraging him not to be stuck in the past with Fiona?
