PHENOMENON

US, 1996, 110 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Forest Whitaker, Kyra Sedgwick
Directed by Jon Turteltaub

George Malley is genial and popular, lives in a small town where he experiments with growing vegetables. He also fixes cars. After his birthday celebration, he sees a bright light in the sky which falls towards him and explodes. When he comes to, he is transformed, is highly intelligent and has telekinetic powers. As he discovers more of what has happened to him, he reads, discusses, learns Portuguese in no time to translate for the doctor to help with a patient.

A scientist interviews him and he is apprehended by the FBI who are suspicious about his knowledge and contacts. Meanwhile his puzzled friends support him as does Lace, a furniture maker with two small children, whom he courts.

Eventually, his condition deteriorates and the FBI keep him under custody in a hospital. However, he escapes and goes back to Lace where he dies. She mourns him. But a year later, all the town and his friends gather to celebrate his birthday as his memory and spirit live on.

Phenomenon is one of those films that can really be called nice - which usually means that they appeal to a wide audience, have laughs and tears and leave people feeling good. Jon Turteltaub also directed the `nice' Cool Runnings and While You Were Sleeping, Instinct and Disney's The Kid. It would not be surprising to hear that the screenwriter had been reading the Gospels while writing this film.

It is a feature of many films that `secular' filmmakers are intrigued by the figure of Jesus, his actions, his message and, especially the impact of his death and of his resurrection - and that his spirit still lives.

John Travolta's character, George Malley, is an ordinary man who has a transforming experience that sharpens his mind and enhances his already kind personality. The Gospel parallels emerge as do George's gifts: people wonder at his powers, discuss him among themselves, authorities are suspicious, people ask him for healing. Phenomenon is about the goodness of human nature and the final scene, while not exactly Babette's Feast, has the same message. (Because of John Travolta's being a Scientologist, some have seen a subtext on this Church.)


1. A pleasing film? A nice film? A film about goodness? In the context of the United States in the 1990s?

2. The background of the town, the detail of the homes, the streets, hotels, shops? The countryside? The homes in the countryside? The film as a piece of Americana? The songs – and the folksy touches?

3. The title, the focus on George and his experience? (And the background of John Travolta as a Scientologist – and the possible relationship of the film and its themes to Scientology?)

4. John Travolta and his screen presence, attractive, making George a genial character? With the rabbits, growing his vegetables, in the garage, fixing cars, his friendship with Nate Pope, the bonds between the two men?

5. The birthday party, the celebrations, the folksy charm? The phenomenon, the fire coming towards him, the effect on George, his transformation?

6. The effect on George in various details of his life: playing chess, reading the pages, the magnet, the telekinesis, the increase of knowledge and intelligence, his speed-reading, learning Portuguese, his way of talk, language? Explanations and lack of explanations? The experiments?

7. Lace, as a person, with her children, her work on the furniture? Her friendship with George? Going out to the hills, the flowers? Play, the meals? The furniture? The quake? The impact of the truth on her?

8. Nate, the bonds with the people in the town, especially George? As a character? His social status? The discussions, the explanations? Michaela?

9. The doctor, the chess games, examining the sick man, needing Portuguese, George and his knowing the language, intervening?

10. Professor Ringold, the experiments, the theories for the explanation, chance, coincidence? The issue of the lost boy, the woods, finding him? The relief of the mother? George and his experience of power going out of him?

11. The reaction of his friends, Doc Brunder and his reaction, friendship? Nate, Lace? The people in the town?

12. The arrival of the FBI, the interrogations, the tests? The military laboratory? The government interest, the possible use for weaponry? The importance of the quiet discussions with the FBI agent?

13. George, his acceptance of the phenomenon, his capacity for self-understanding, the advice that he received from Nate? The breaking of the mirror, the presence of the doctor, sensing the breeze? Other phenomena?

14. The transformation of George, the change, the shaving, the haircut?

15. The celebration, the television? The demonstration with the glasses? The possibility for healing, the crowds? The response of the press? The discussions about the light, and the light coming?

16. The hospital visits, Lace, Doctor Wellin? The experience of the rain?

17. George’s escape, reliance on Nate, the doctor and the tyres? The kids, eating the apples? The FBI and their confronting Lace? George on the hill, the love? His asking Lace to have faith in him? The build-up to his death? The professor and getting the papers to him?

18. Lace weeping, the grief at the death, the spirit blowing through the trees, the gentle breeze?

19. One year later, the fruit, Nate, the pregnancy? Michaela? The stars reaching down? Shining? The love for George, his bequest of love? The party celebration – the images of Eucharistic celebration, Thanksgiving and Memorial, the effect of the party and the celebration on each of those present?

20. A film of values, emotion, American paranoia, the wonders of the phenomenon – and the religious echoes and overtones?