ZANDALEE
US, 1990, 104 minutes, Colour.
Nicolas Cage, Judge Reinhold, Erika Anderson, Viveca Lindfors, Joe Pantoliano, Steve Buscemi.
Directed by Sam Pilsbury.
Zandalee is a New Orleans story, a story of marriage, collapse of marriage, the exploration of sexual freedom. The film-makers intended this to depth the psychology of the heroin. However, there is little psychological depth in the film, episodes are presented, dialogue runs the risk always of cliche and much of the dialogue is risible. Parallels might be made with the films of Zalman King: Two Moon Junction, Nine and a Half Weeks and, especially, Wild Orchid which this film resembles.
The cast is quite strong with Erica Anderson as Zandalee and with Nicholas Cage as the passionate painter and Judge Reinhold (executive producer of the movie) as the impotent husband. The supporting cast is led by Viveca Lindfors and includes Joe Pantoliano as a transvestite and Zac Galligan as an art dealer.
The atmosphere of New Orleans is caught on film. However, the awkward direction and the sometimes embarrassing sequences mean that the film does not make the impact that it intended. The direction is by Sam Pillsbury, an American who spent many years in New Zealand and directed such films as Scarecrow and Starlight Hotel.
1.Interesting and entertaining? The impact? Psychological exploration - or not? The quality of the exploration, its depth? The exploration of the erotic and of love in and outside marriage? Sexuality?
2.The photography of New Orleans and its atmosphere? The homes, business world, the Bayous? The sex clubs of New Orleans? How authentic the atmosphere?
3.The title and the focus on Zandalee, on the two men?
4.Zandalee and her relationship with Thierry? The opening, the sexual emphasis - and audience prurience and voyeurism? Her own reticence and Catholic upbringing? Her relationship with Thierry, marriage, love, sexuality? Her love for his poetry? His plans and the interest in business? Her reacting against this? The exotic aspects of her life in New Orleans? The ordinariness of her jogging and this recurring throughout the film? The introduction to Johnny, her being repelled, her offhand remarks, attracted? The portrait painting and her comments? The number of meetings? Gerri and the work at the shop, his cross-dressing, his friendship, taking her to the sex clubs? The effect on her, Thierry's impotence and her disappointment? Her needing to feel free, to be opened up, the reaction to Johnny, their passionate affair, the encounters? Her deceit? The meal and the experience? It becoming too much, wanting an escape? Her friendship with Thierry's grandmother, listening to her story, getting support? Her visit to Johnny's studio, the answering machine and the women, her jealousy, her throwing the paint around, the destruction? The end of the affair? The change in Thierry? Their going to the Bayou, talking, the sexual passion? Johnny's arriving, the clash on the wharf? On the boat, the accident, her trying to save her husband? His death and the effect on her? Her grief, the sequence in the cemetery (and meeting the prisoner who collected garbage)? The encounter with Johnny, her going in front of him and being shot?
5.Thierry, tightness, going to the bucks' night, meeting Johnny, bringing him home, memories of childhood, growing up? Johnny working for him? Giving up the poetry - and his quoting the poetry throughout the film? Business, trying to live up to his father? The painting of the portrait? The deals, the visits and interviews, the meals? His impotence? His disappointment, suspicions of Johnny? Wanting to opt out of the business? Going away, hoping to be reconciled with Zandalee? The happiness, Johnny's arrival, his instigating the formal dance on the wharf? Falling into the river, his attack on Johnny and biting him, wanting to die?
6.Johnny, rugged, the painter, passionate, drugs, his moral stances, sexuality? His betrayal of Thierry? The passion, the painting of the portrait? The encounters with Zandalee, seduction? Freeing her? Pursuing her, the encounters, the encounter in the church - and the confessional? The break? His following them to the Bayou, on the boat, the dance, the dive, Thierry's death? His disillusionment? Destroying his paintings? Being shot at - and carrying Zandalee?
7.Tata, the grandmother, her help for Thierry, place in the house? The breakfast talk with Thierry and her support of him? Her personal talking with Zandalee and explaining her own affair? Her life with Louis, Louis always in the background, coming to the dinner, playing cards, his discretion to let Zandalee talk?
8.Gerri, the dresses, the homosexual world, the bars, helping Zandalee, taking her out?
9.The business world, companies, executives, money deals? The world of relaxing, the bars?
10.The glimpse of the sex world of New Orleans?
11.The art world, paintings, exhibitions and dealers?
12.The serious intentions of the film? Its intention for psychological depth - how successful? How pretentious?
