THE BOYNTON BEACH BEREAVEMENT CLUB

US, 2005, 105 minutes, Colour.
Brenda Vaccaro, Len Cariou, Sally Kellerman, Joseph Bologna, Michael Nouri, Renee Taylor.
Directed by Susan Seidelman.

The Boynton Beach Bereavement Club was co-written and directed by Susan Seidelman who had a movie career in the 1980s (Smithereens, She-Devil, Cookie) but in more recent decades has worked for television.

Boynton Beach is a town in southern Florida. It has the atmosphere of all the Florida resorts, especially for the elderly and retired. This film focuses on a number of people who have experienced bereavement, loss of a spouse. They go to a club, get to know one another, enter relationships. They also take part in activities (rather nostalgic and retrospective) for socialising.

The film has an interesting cast with the opportunity to see Brenda Vaccaro in a substantial role, Sally Kellerman in an older variation of roles that she played in the past. The men are played by Len Carious, Joseph Bologna and Michael Nouri. Renee Taylor (who is married to Joseph Bologna in real life for over forty years – and played Fran Drescher’s mother in The Nanny) has a supporting role.

The film offers some insight into serious themes – but all with the light touch, and the touch of soap opera treatment.

1.A film for older audiences, the subject of ageing, bereavement, relationships?

2.Florida, the town, the coast, people retired? Affluent? The musical score?

3.The title, the focus on bereavement?

4.Brenda Vaccaro, her life and age, love for her husband, nice, his song and dance, going down the street, the driver, talking on the phone, the crash, his death?

5.The importance of bereavement, the group, the leader and her style, very American? Men and women?

6.The focus on the different couples, their past, the photos from the past, the photos at the end?

7.The story of Lois and Don: Lois, her age, lying about it, her friendship with Brenda Vaccaro, at the meetings, giving driving lessons, Brenda Vaccaro being grateful to her? The chance meeting with Don, his suave manner, his being a real estate agent, going out with him, the relationship? The irony of meeting him at Brenda Vaccaro’s house, Lois’s anger, going to the dance with Brenda Vaccaro, her persuading her to go to Don, his arrival, the taxi, a future?

8.Jack and Sandy: Jack, his wife’s death, the funeral, Jewish background, his daughter and granddaughter, the discovery of his wife’s diary, the granddaughter reading it, his later reading it, his being amazed at learning about his wife? Sandy and her approach, their going out, dancing, Jack and the constant memories, at home, with Sandy, the next day? His daughter and her expectations? The irony of Jack and Sandy at the restaurant, her husband turning up, the humiliation, taking Sandy home? The later going to Sandy’s house, the reconciliation? A future?

9.Harry, member of the club, his internet searching, the dates? Belonging to the group, friends, the idea of the reunion, looking up the magazine, inviting the woman from the past? Being seen with her at the end?

10.The woman driving, talking on the phone, her hitting Brenda Vaccaro’s husband? Lois and Brenda Vaccaro seeing her at the restaurant, wanting to confront her? Her visiting her, talking with her, slapping her face, the woman amazed – and talking about dealing with it in therapy?

11.The focus on people in their sixties and seventies, men and women and their different approaches, the experience of bereavement, the effect, relationships, sexuality, success and failure? The party, the nostalgia, the final focus on the group at the party?

12.Brenda Vaccaro, the end, at home with her dog – content?

13.The serious themes – but with the light touch?