UNDER THE LIGHTHOUSE DANCING

Australia, 1996, 115 minutes, Colour.
Jack Thompson, Jacqueline Mc Kenzie, Naomi Watts, Aden Gillet.
Directed by Graeme Rattigan.

Under the Lighthouse Dancing was filmed at Rottnest Island and in Perth. It is the first film of co-writer and director Graeme Rattigan.

The film is said to be based on a true story. It is an unashamedly sentimental film (with the characters doing an inordinate amount of laughing, then crying) in which a couple want to get married on the island and it is revealed that the wife has terminal cancer. The film takes place over a weekend with the arrival, the frustrated preparations for the wedding, the wedding and the celebration - with the postscript of the death of the wife.

The film is often twee as well as sentimental in its dialogue and situations. However, it has more strength from the performance of Jacqueline Mc Kenzie, a matter-of-fact kind of actress who undermines the sweetness and light with some edge. Jack Thompson is the husband.

The film is a popular sentimental story designed for the widest audience.

1. The impact of the film? Romance? Sentiment? Based on a true story?

2. The Rottnest Island locations, the beauty of the island, the sea? The musical score, the songs?

3. The title and its focus on Harry and Emma, the wedding, the finale and their dancing?

4. The credibility of the plot: the older man and the younger woman? The weekend on the island? Their friends? The illness? The difficulties of having the wedding? The preparations for the wedding celebration? The sub‑theme of the angel and the angel's presence? Harry and his being reassured by a vision of Emma?

5. The focus on Harry and Emma, their love for each other, their age, being together, the plan for the wedding? Harry and the audience not given much of his background as a man, his life or his work? Seen solely in his love for Emma? The contrast with Emma, her age, being with Harry, love for him? No background except for the revelation of her illness? Her friendship with Lou? Their characters, leading David on about Lou and her size? The voyage, the friends on the island, comfortable together? Harry and his drinking and his maudlin announcement about the wedding? Harry and his going to the priest, to the Anglican priest? Taking the axe to the boarded-up church? Seeing the wedding procession go by? Friendship with David and the determination to have the wedding, asking him to do the ceremony? Emma and her enjoyment of the island, swimming, laughing? The preparation for the wedding? The sadness of her announcement of her illness and the group's response? Her going for the walk, floating in the water? David photographing her? The day of the wedding, the celebration itself, the importance of the ritual, the feeling, the ceremony? The aftermath and the finding of the material, the fence, the lavish celebration? Their going off on the motorbike and the light from the lighthouse, dancing there?

6. Emma and her seeing the angel after she was rescued from the water by Harry? With the group, the onlookers? The danger to her life? Her wondering about angels, asking Garth about miracles? Her death, the funeral, lying in the coffin? Harry and the grief at the funeral? His going off by himself, the light and hearing her voice? A belief in the presence of angels and the miraculous?

7. David, the boat, the Pom and his friendship with Harry? Being led on about Lou? The voyage, the meal and the attraction towards Lou, the walk, his going onto the boat and the series of mishaps? The preparation for the wedding? His agreeing to do it? The growing friendship with Lou? Stopping Harry axe the church door? The preparation for the wedding, the wedding itself? The aftermath? His voice-over and the comment about five years having passed? His memories?

8. Garth and his wife? On the island, the house, hosts? Garth and his diagnosis? The support to Harry and Emma? The preparation for the wedding? The sadness about not having any shoes? The celebrations? The aftermath and the funeral?

9. Lou, friends with Emma? Coming from England, on the boat, the attraction towards David, the expectations of the night and his not turning up? Learning to ride the monocycle? The enjoyment of the day, her reaction to the news of Emma's illness? The wedding, the celebration? The aftermath and her relationship with David?

10. The glimpse of the Irish Catholic priest, the Anglican priest and his wife and family? Friendly - but the realities of documents, licences and bureaucracy?

11. The circus people, playing on the beach, the group joining them, the crisis with Emma's swimming to get the ball and her distress? The circus celebration at the wedding? The people joining in the celebration?

12. The sentiment, sadness and happiness? Terminal illness? People bonding together? The importance of marriage, and the ceremony and the ritual? The possibility of miracles and guardian angels?