AN UNREMARKABLE LIFE
US, 1989, 97 minutes, Colour.
Shelley Winters, Patricia Neal, Mako, Charles S. Dutton.
Directed by Amin Q. Chaudhri.
An Unremarkable Life, like The Whales of August, is a story of two ageing sisters, their love, their clashes. The films are also vehicles for older stars, in this case Patricia Neal and Shelley Winters. Patricia Neal gives a forceful performance as the elderly schoolteacher who has had very little opportunity for relationships and has been dominated by her married sister, Shelley Winters. The two actresses play well together.
The setting is autumn in Pennsylvania, a symbol for the lives of the two women - hopes and disappointments. Mako is very good as the genial widower who falls in love with Patricia Neal.
The film has many familiar sequences - but the strength of the two actresses makes them more realistic and gives them impact.
1. Themes of age, change, relationships?
2. Pennsylvania settings, the autumn? Town, homes? The flashbacks for the aerial sequences? Musical score?
3. The title and Frances's reference to her own life as unremarkable? How true? The point being made by the title?
4. The initial meeting with Frances and Evelyn, in the house, as sisters, working together, the Charleston? Preparation for the meal? Gardening? The prejudices of the two sisters?
5. The past: Evelyn and her marriage, leaving home, bringing up her family, a widow, the relationship with her children? Dominating Frances? Returning home? Frances and her staying at home, close to the family, going into the air force and her ability as a pilot, having to return to look after her father? Her teaching, the passing of 40 years, allowing herself to be dominated?
6. The neighbours and their arrival, the happy image of marriage, each of the sisters watching? The adoption of the Asian child? Evelyn and her prejudice, memories of her husband in the prisoner of war camp? Themes of civilisation and barbarism? Frances and her charm, open-minded? Babysitting? The tour of the house, the couple buying it? The happiness of the two sisters for the house being bought?
7. Evelyn and her dominance, her going to church meetings, the tribute by the priest? Her friends? Inviting her family to the meal and some of them opting out? Her relationship with her daughter, criticising her granddaughter's marriage and divorce? Arguments? Her jealousy of Frances? Complaining, feeling she was being ousted? Critical, waiting for Frances to come home? Her rudeness to Max at the meal? The arguments between the two sisters and the points being made? Going to the bus station, being brought back? Facing up to change, learning? More friendly with the neighbours? Frances and Max in Greece? An American type, middle-class, prejudices, change?
8. Frances's story, a good woman, reading to the children? The cat and the car crash? Meeting Max, no charge? Going out, sharing with him, enjoying his company? Meals, walking, playing Monopoly? Talking, the bonds? Frances forgetting Evelyn? Arriving home late? The dinner and Evelyn's rudeness? Separating from Max? The emergency, Evelyn running away? Accepting Max's offer, going to Greece, happiness? The letters home? Love, opportunity?
9. The truth-telling between the two sisters, the relationship, family, parents, the house? Love and hurt?
10. Max as a genial man, widower, his semi-retirement, working? Meeting Frances, going out, talking, playing Monopoly, the dates, Evelyn's rudeness and his being hurt? Frances's separation? The happy acceptance? Going to Greece?
11. Evelyn's daughter and the relationship, the meal, tensions? Her not being able to take her mother into her home? The granddaughter and the changes?
12. The glimpse of the town, Max's partner at the service station? The restaurants, the school?
13. Themes of individuality, relationships, opportunity, love, regrets?
