THE PROFESSOR/ RICHARD SAYS GOODBYE

US, 2018, 90 minutes, Colour.

Johnny Depp, Rosemarie De Witt, Odessa Young, Danny Huston, Zoe Deutch, Devon Terrell, Ron Livingston, Linda Emond, Siobhan Fallon Hogan.

Directed by Wayne Roberts.

While this drama is about terminal cancer and the consequences, it is also a drama set in academia.

Johnny Depp is a professor, with tenure at the University, teaching literature, encouraging creative writing. On a visit to a doctor, he is given six months to live. His immediate response is an aggressive denial, some ranting and raving.

However, his situation throws a great deal of light on how he lives his life, his relationship with his wife, Rosemarie De Witt, the tensions between them, her telling him she is having an affair with the College Dean, Ron Livingston. His daughter reveals that she is a lesbian and her mother insists that this is just a phase. The professor doesn’t get the chance to tell them the truth.

We see the consequences of the news of terminal illness in the way that the professor carries on his classes, sometimes ridiculing his students, dismissing them, hearing their topics for stories, most on the verge of walking out but there is a core group, including the niece of the Dean, who stay with him, support his unorthodox ways, have meetings in parks, restaurants, writing their stories. There is also a talented student in the class who comes to visit the professor, reveals that he is gay, entices him to an experience.

The professor does have a friend on the faculty, played by Danny Huston, who is put upon to give the professor sabbatical leave. Ultimately, at a dinner where the professor is humiliated at the table, he stands up and tells the truth about his wife, love for her, her affair, and the fact that he is dying.

Granted the sabbatical, the professor takes a path, two possibilities, but then dives into the river, death at his own timing.

Not quite the expected entertainment with Johnny Depp.

1. The original title? The effectiveness of the alternate title?
2. The titles, the focus on academia, the University, Chancellor, staff and tenure, life on campus, organisation, lectures, finance, monuments…? The focus on Richard, his life, impending death, principles, letting go, behaviour, death?
3. The structure of the film, the focus on Richard, the chapter titles, the elegant lettering?
4. Johnny Depp as Richard, his age, lecturer in English, his courses, students, wanting them to think independently, love of literature? The background of his marriage, love for Veronica, her career, sculpture, affair with the Chancellor? Love for Olivia, her declaration about sexual preference, her mother’s reaction, Richard making her apologise and Olivia accept it? Richard’s friendship with Peter, confident, telling him the truth about his death?
5. Richard’s life, directions, regrets? The effect of the diagnosis? His decision to let loose? The students, the challenge of them to remain, the invitation to walk out, prospect of their results, those remaining, the puzzle, gathering them at the bar, his speeches, getting their responses, interest in literature, the waitress, the sudden sexual encounter? The reaction of the students? Meeting them outside, the student on Moby Dick, her grade? His cutting off the other giving her speech? Encouraging them with his philosophy of freedom? The student approach in his room, sexual curiosity? The sexual encounter?
6. Peter, his place at the University, his relationship with his wife and her dominance? The friendship with Richard, his being upset, the tears, giving advice, the visit to the church?
7. Veronica, her relationship with the Chancellor, telling Richard about his sexual organs, Richard quoting this in his speech? Veronica, disappointed in life, in love, her work, the dedication of the statue, Richard noting it was phallic? The ceremony, the Chancellor cutting the ribbon, the photo opportunity?
8. The arrangement for Richard to be at home, for the sake of Olivia? The conversations between the couple at night? The meals with Olivia, his affirming her? Her relationship, the breakup and her being upset? The farewell to her father?
9. The Chancellor’s dinner, socialising, Richard at another table, Veronica next to the Chancellor, Richard and his speech, Frank, the reaction of the various people are table, his revealing the truth?
10. Richard, drinking, experimentation with drugs? Kicking over the traces, adolescent behaviour, yet his age, facing death, his collapses, people’s concern, taken to hospital?
11. The finale, the farewell, his facing his death? The movement to the stars? Afterlife or not?