SPOILS OF WAR

US, 1994, 100 minutes, Colour.
Kate Nelligan, John Heard, Toby Maguire, Andrea Roth, Rhea Perleman.
Directed by David Greene.

Spoils of War is based on a play by Michael Weller who has adapted it for the screen. At times it is strong with dialogue, evidence of the theatrical origins of the film.

The film was directed by David Greene, who directed Godspell and many television movies. Kate Nelligan is very strong as the mother of the family. John Heard gives an emotional performance as the estranged father. The film is of interest in seeing Toby Maguire at the age of eighteen. Within three years he made The Ice Storm and began a very successful career, reaching a popular peak as Spiderman.

The film was set in the 1970s with memories of the protests of the 1960s. Nelligan and Heard portray a couple who for fifteen years. Toby Maguire has lived with his mother but wants to know something of his father. This brings about strong tensions with all the characters – but ultimately, some kind of understanding if not reconciliation. Rhea Perlman portrays Kate Nelligan’s friend, a protester from the old days.

1. The impact of the film? Portrait of American families? Separated families? Dysfunctional? Insightful into families?

2. The 1970s settings, the memories of the 60s? The protest and hippie days? The New York locations? The school? The house on the beach? Musical score?

3. The title, the intimations of war, the plunder of war – and Martin as the spoils of war?

4. The credibility of the basic situation: Elise, the past, her protest, her friendship with Emma and Cecil, her love for Andrew? Her not being able to stay, taking Martin with her? Not communicating with Andrew for fifteen years? Her drinking, going to bars, meeting men? The way that she brought up her son? Her work? Her skills? The opening, the break-up, driving away, the decision to go to New York? Her getting a job, efficient at her job? At home? Getting desperate, her reaction to Martin’s getting in touch with his father? Wanting to send him to the independent school? His reaction, her laying down the law? The cost? His running away, her bringing him back? Her work, unable to go to the parents’ day? The aftermath? Her response to his getting the scholarship to Switzerland? Her anger, his seeing his father? Martin’s rebuking her? Her going to the party, arriving late? The conversation with Emma, relying on her, Cecil and his going to Canada? Emma telling her some home truths? The visit to Andrew, her offhand attitude towards Penny? The frank talking with Andrew, loving him, the night together? The angry interchange? Martin staying with his father, her going off? The reconciliation with her son, her realisation of what she must do? Her trust in him? A future?

5. Martin, his age, experience, living with his mother? The letters to his father? No address? The break-up, the decision to go to New York? His going to see his father, the photo shoot, talking with his father afterwards? The visits, sharing? The phone calls? His not wanting to go to school, the arrival, running away? Exasperation with his mother? Exasperation with her behaviour? His phoning his father, inviting him to the parents’ day? The flight, going home with him, meeting Penny? Wanting his mother to come to the party? His speech on the parents’ day and his achievement? Explanations to his father? His mother’s arrival, his drinking, falling in the water? Witnessing his parents’ clash? Staying with his father, the return to his mother? Reconciliation? Keeping in touch with his father?

6. Andrew, in the commune, opting out, people feeling he had sold out? His not being ready for family? His travels, photography? His living with Penny, her age? The photo shoot, meeting Martin, his reaction, not wanting surprises? His keeping in touch, going to the parents’ day, the flight, disagreement with the content of his speech? The meal with Penny? Meeting Elise, the night, his love, the argument, his passionate outburst, her telling him truths? Martin staying with him, this not being possible, sending him back to his mother? Future?

7. Penny, her reliance on Andrew, living with him, her pleasant manner, with Martin, put down by Elise, her leaving?

8. Emma and Cecil, the memories of the commune, committed to causes? Taking in Elise, Rhea (**Emma?) and her upset with Cecil having to go to Canada, speaking the truth to Elise?

9. The school, the head, non-competitive? The parents’ day?

10. A credible world? The setting of the 70s – and still relevant in decades after?