CAVEDWELLER
U.S., 2004, 95 minutes, Colour.
Kyra Sedgwick, Aidan Quinn, Kevin Bacon, Sherilynn Fenn, Jackie Burroughs
Directed by Lisa Cholodenko
Quite an enigmatic symbolic title for this modest but effective film. Cavedwellers can be recluses, people who hide and have gone back to nature. Early cavedwellers were primitive. The epithet caveman is not a compliment to a man - and its describes some of the behaviour of the leading men here. When cavemen were brutal, the women had to suffer, to hide, ro run away if they could, to protect their children. These are the kinds of thoughts that come to mind while watching Cavedweller.
Lisa Cholodenko has made two quite different films with the chic and sexually ambivalent world of High Art and the bizarre world of Hollywood and the record industry in Laurel Canyon. Now she goes south and west to California and, more importantly, the kinds of backwoods communities of Georgia.
This is Kyra Sedgwick's film. She is centre screen all the time. At first, it is difficult to sympathise with her. Her long-term partner is killed in a drunken car crash and she makes a hasty decision to return home with her daughters, to Georgia. She had run off ten years earlier, abandoning husband and daughters, with a musician. How can she return and be accepted? This is the gist of the story. And there is a lot more back story than we might have thought, filled in with vivid flashbacks.
Kyra Sedgwick (Mr and Mrs Bridge, Phenomenon) is totally convincing as a woman who has made a mess of her life. When we understand the pressures she was under, we appreciate her better. And we appreciate her even more strongly when we see her making decisions which are self-sacrificing. The last 20 minutes of the film give it quite some depth.
Kevin Bacon (who has been married to Kyra Sedgwick for many years and appeared with him in films like The Woodsman) is the care-free musician. Aidan Quinn gives a powerful performance as the brutal husband. The girls who portray the daughters, two who have not seen their mother for ten years, one of whom has religion from her possessive grandmother who has brought them up and the other who could go the same way as her mother, as well as the daughter by the musician, give substance to the struggles in broken family relationships.
Winner of the Ecumenical Prize at the Karlovy Vary festival, 2004.
1.A film about family, family abuse, forgiveness and reconciliation?
2.The meaning of the title? Elliptical?
3.The present story of Delia, the flashbacks to the past, to Clint’s past, to Randall’s?
4.The initial impact of Delia, her type, look, manner of speaking, her relationship with Cissy? Randall’s death? The glimpses of them in the car, the crash? The ambiguity of the relationship with Randall? Difficulties with Cissy, her playing her father’s records, Delia stopping her? The decision to return to Georgia, to return home, her motivation, rectifying the past? Packing, leaving, the long drive, the clash with Cissy in the car, the motel, going to the diner for breakfast and the woman attacking her for running away?
5.Cissy, her age, an image of her mother? Her devotion to her father, idolising him, playing his music, resenting her mother? Using her name? Not wanting to leave Los Angeles? The hardships of the trip?
6.Rosemary, playing in the band, her friendship with Delia, her confidante? Their discussions, her talking with Cissy and helping her? The later visit, observing the situation, observing the girls, bringing music to the table, the meals, joy, common sense? Her seeing Dede spent the night out and confronting her? Amanda making the crosses? Her going back to LA – and a catalyst for the women?
7.The flashbacks to Randall, his charm, playing, the kiss, the bus breaking down, the crash and the injury to Cissy’s eye, his behaviour, his death?
8.The flashbacks to Clint, the carnival, his outbursts, at home, the bath sequence, his violent treatment of Delia? Her memories of running away? Her saying she could never stay?
9.Her granddad, Cissy thinking the people hillbillies, his receiving Delia, his reaction, warming to Cissy, bringing the trunk?
10.Mrs Windsor, at church, her condemnation of her son, taking the girls, her prim educating of them, her hostility to Delia, upset about the legal situation, Delia suggesting she come to visit Clint as he died, her hardness of heart?
11.M.T. as a friend, the past, support to Delia, advice, friendship with Cissy, memories of her mother as a hairdresser?
12.Delia and the girls, not being able to meet them, going to church, looking at them, M.T. and her advice about legal custody?
13.Clint, his illness, Delia’s visit, the bargain, helping him with his death, his signing the documents? Cissy arriving, meeting him? The girls, their arrival, awkwardness with their father, the meals, their room, Dede like her mother, Amanda and her primness? Their dislike of Delia? The influence of Mrs Windsor and her strictness?
14.Dede, like her mother, interest in Randall’s music, discussions with Cissy, opening the trunk, Delia’s clothes? Her night out with the twins? Rosemary’s confrontation?
15.The contrast with Amanda, in the choir, her conversion experience, her God language, prayer, prim, not wanting the lift from Delia, condemning her mother, saying God would judge her and send her to Hell? Delia and her words about Jesus, forgiveness, not wanting Amanda to be bitter? Amanda making the crosses, making a Calvary for Delia?
16.Delia, her discussions with the pastor, reflection on the past, assessing her responsibility, her atonement? Her acceptance of her own Calvary?
17.Delia cleaning, caring for Clint, Cissy reading to him, the talks, remembering?
18.Clint’s death, her invitation to the girls to be there, Carrie and her holding Clint’s hand, his saying he was sorry? Her reverence for him?
19.The aftermath, her telling the girls the story of her meeting Clint, the happy memories? The focus on her face, the faces of the girls – and indications of the future?
