SOLOMON AND GAYNOR

UK, 1998, 104 minutes, Colour.
Ioan Gruffudd, Nia Roberts, Sue Jones Davies, William Thomas, Mark Lewis Jones, Maureen Lipman, David Horovitch.
Directed by Paul Morrison.

Solomon and Gaynor was an official nominee for the foreign language Oscars and made it to the five best film nominations. It is spoken in Welsh.

The film is the work of documentary-maker Paul Morrison who moved into feature films with Solomon and Gaynor and also made the delightful film about a family in London in 1960 and a passion for cricket, Wondrous Oblivion. Morrison also acts as a psychotherapist.

Ioan Gruffudd was at the beginning of his career, made an impact on television as Captain Horatio Hornblower and appeared in feature films including King Arthur. Maureen Lipman appears as his mother (in a role parallel to that she played in Polanski’s The Pianist).

The film recreates the world of Wales in 1911, the Jewish refugees into Wales and their being subjected to anti-Semitic attack. It shows life amongst the Welsh, the very strict and fundamentalist chapel people. The film is a Romeo and Juliet story, the love between a young man and a young woman from hostile families and the tragedy that ensues.

1. The impact of the film, human interest, love, tragedy, tears? The meeting of the Welsh Nationalists with the Jewish migrants to Wales? A Romeo and Juliet parallel story?

2. The re-creation of the world of 1911, the Welsh towns, the deprivations, the Welsh hills, the mines? Décor, costumes? The town and the shops, homes? The musical score and the Welsh themes?

3. The Romeo and Juliet expectations, the presentation of the families, the lovers, the secrecy, the persecution, tragedy and death?

4. The portrait of the Welsh, the long traditions, the family closeness, life in the towns, the work in the mines, the hard life, chapel and the devout fundamentalists, the severity, the minister? Family life? Meals, baths? Abstaining, sense of duty, the sanctification of the Sunday? The importance of the strikes and the repercussions?

5. The Jewish refugees, wanting to settle in Wales, to gain some freedom from persecution, opening shops, the conduct of the sales, the closing of the shop, the attack on the shop and its being burnt? The religious background, homes, meals, ceremonies?

6. The prejudice on each side of the divide? Each being isolated in its prejudice?

7. The portrait of Solomon, his place in the family, his skill as an accountant, wary of the people in Wales, his work, salesman? The encounter with Gaynor, the attraction to her? The samples, his deciding to make the dress for her? The gift? His double life, not telling her the truth? The number of visits, church, tea, hiding from her father? The sexual liaison? The harshness of her brother, the west? His not telling anyone, the invitation to meet her family, at home? The boys and his being warned off? Their hostility? His not knowing that Gaynor was pregnant?

8. Gaynor, her place in the family, the oldest of the children, her relationship with her parents, at home, at work? The meeting with Solomon, seeing him as Sam? The samples, the gift of the dress? The religious dimensions of her life, chapel, Sunday school? His visits, the sexual liaison, her pregnancy? The family reaction, the clash, seeking the truth, finding out about Solomon? His being denounced, her going away to have the child, the adoption?

9. The two sets of parents, their attitudes, suspicions? Crad, the big man, the strikes, his violence? The confrontation with Solomon?

10. Gaynor’s family, handling of the situation, her brother? The tensions, people going berserk? The attack on the Jewish shops? The burning it to the ground?

11. Gaynor and Solomon together, the plan to run away, their not being able to do this?

12. Gaynor, her sense of loneliness, her being sent off? The visiting Jews?

13. Solomon, at work, the fight with Crad, the injuries, the desperate journey, going through the snow, being united with Gaynor? Their love, her cradling him, his death? The birth of the child, its being given up for adoption?

14. A picture of an era, the historical perspective, religious prejudice, the nature of religion, love transcending prejudice?