AN UNMARRIED WOMAN

US, 1977, 124 minutes, Colour.
Jill Clayburgh, Alan Bates, Michael Murphy, Cliff Gorman, Pat Quinn.
Directed by Paul Mazursky.

An Unmarried Woman was written and directed by a man, the offbeat Paul Mazursky. This arresting film needs to be reviewed by a middle-aged married woman to attest to its authenticity or not as a piece of feminine sensibility. It certainly seems so. In a frank, somewhat explicit manner, it shows a marriage break up and Erica, the heroine in her attempts to cope with husband, daughter but mainly herself. Jill Clayburgh's performance is excellent and also illuminating, making us share in the shattering experience. Michael Murphy embodies the callow husband very well. However it is in the wealth of detail of brief sequences that ring very true, and in the woman's experience that the film has value.

1. The focus and tone of the title? The emphasis on the woman and her point of view? The implications of unmarried? Social aspects, moral aspects, feminist aspects?

2. The film received many awards and nominations. Why? Its qualities of production, them, acting, insight? Jill Clayburgh and her performance? A film reflecting the 70s?

3. The film's contemporary appeal and interest? An American film, its universal insights and application?

4. How much insight into women? The portrait of Erica and her behaviour and her personality? The portrait of the range of her friends? Pattie, Tania? A portrait of persons and their feelings, opportunities? Marriage and love, loneliness? The background of the oppression of women and their emergence in the later 20th. century?

5. The presentation of men - of equal value to women? The comparisons made and their odious tone? The impression made by Martin? The contrast with Saul? Charlie and his opportunism? Men like Hal, Bob, Phil and his relationship with Pattie? The downplaying of the male?

6. The fact that the screenplay was written by a man, the director being the author? Masculine presentation of feminist themes?

7. The importance of the use of New York city, the approach during the credits, the river, streets, apartments? Social background of New York? The importance of the score and the use of the instruments, the variations for mood of the central them?

8. The structure of the film: the relationship between Erica and Martin? The break and Erica's life by herself? Erica and Saul and the future? The repetition of patterns and themes in each phase of the structure?

9. The build-up of the film and introduction to the characters and themes: the exhilaration of the jogging, the incident with the sneaker indicating Martin's moodiness and Erica's response to him? Their love, quarrelling, making up? The place of Pattie in their lives? Erica's rising in the morning and her ballet dancing and the intimations of what she might have been? Her yearnings? The insight into sixteen years of marriage - happiness, each believing in the other? Pattie as a symbol of this? The fact that this idyllic life would be shattered and was only a surface life? Erica's presumption that all was well?

10. The bond between Erica and Martin as illustrated in the jogging, the arguing, the fact that Martin lied so much, the sexual relationship and the ease with which they spoke about sexuality, the intimacy of their love and lovemaking? Martin and his work, the contrast with Erica's? Martin on edge and the potential for breakdown and worry about age and career? The importance of fidelity? Breakfast scenes and the discussion about Pattie and school? The build-up to the lunch sequence and Erica's chatter and Martin's miserable approach? The discussion in the street and his telling her the truth? His baby kind of attitude and weeping, her horror and harshness? Her lonely walk and Martin's walking away? Her being physically sick? The transition then to hatred, the breaking of a relationship? Erica jogging by herself, the encounters with Martin and her hostility, the story of Marsha and Bloomingdales? Money, the antagonism in the office? Erica's making him see his daughter? Her refusal to take him back? The importance of the bonds of the past, the change and the irrevocability of the break?

11. The personality of Erica and Jill Clayburgh's vitality and performance? The indications in her dance sequence, her capacity for love and fidelity, the attitudes towards Charlie? The experience of being shattered and having to cope?

12. The relationship with her girlfriends and their meeetings? The importance of the long talks? The significance of Jeanette and her discussion about her relationship with the younger man, his massage, her worry about her son and the boyfriend's parents? Blaine and her drinking and cynicism? Her being hurt? Sue and her practical common sense? Her discussion about sexuality and relationships? Mutual support and help? The scene in the restaurant, the scene in the bar and the discussion about the divorce? Sue thinking the marriage was not yet over? The scene at Erica's place and the discussion about film stars and feminine heroes, Pattie's contribution? The looking over the new apartment and Elaine's advice about Saul? Erica's bond with these women? The frank talk about sexuality, social and moral stances? Insight into women and their relationships?

13. Erica and her love for Pattie? The way that she was bringing her up frankly in the home? Discussions about Phil and her virginity? Her love for her father and her turning this to hatred? The two supporting each other? The importance of Erica's outburst against Phil and then inviting him back? Pattie's reaction to Saul? The tender sequences between the two - Erica advising Pattie to get used to her father's absence. the singing of the song at the piano? The bond between mother and daughter?

14. The immediate impact of the separation on Erica and its souring her attitude? Her brooding, weeping? The outing with Elaine and Hal and its comic tones. her solicitous friends and their trying to help? The incident in the taxi and her outburst at the pass? Her antagonism towards the doctor and his pass? Taking this out on Phil and Pattie and her apology? Her visit to Martin and the hostility? The decision to go to the therapist - the patient listening and guidance of the therapist? The long discussion about her first period, her crying and seeking of advice? Tania's advice about dating and experimentation?

15. The wisdom of going by herself to the bar, the friends she met there and the discussion about the gallery, Charlie and her decision to go to his apartment, her nervousness. the break-off? The significance of the later fight at the party?

16. The encounter with Saul - the flirting at the gallery, the immediate sexual encounter? The quality of their discussions, shared stories, insights? Saul's story about his upbringing, family, career? His love for Erica? Her being wary, loving him but discovering her independence and her own personality? The party, the fight with Charlie? Pattie and testing her attitude towards Saul? The walk with the ice cream and the discussion about the holiday in Vermont? Erica's seeking advice, Elaine's counselling of her? Her decision not to go and the reasons for it? The giving of the painting and her carrying it through the city -an appropriate conclusion to the film, open-ended?

17. How well did the film portray the crisis of a woman and the changes in her life? Indications for her future?