FOR THE MOMENT
Canada, 1993, 123 minutes, Colour.
Russell Crowe, Christianne Hirt, Wanda Cannon, Scott Kraft, Peter Outerbridge, Sara Mc Millan.
Directed by Aaron Kim Johnston.
For the Moment is a Canadian production which is both a memoir of World War Two as well as a tribute to those involved in action as well as the people of Canada and what they endured during the war. The film is set in Manitoba, in the countryside, the summer of 1942 with young Canadian men and some overseas pilots, including an Australian, before they go to war.
Russell Crowe made this film between The Silver Brumby and The Sum of Us. It preceded his international career. The rest of the cast is Canadian and they give credible performances, making this rural story quite credible.
The film has a number of aerial shots, highlighting the beauty of the Manitoba Plains. There are also coast and beach sequences.
The film is melodramatic at times but the quality of the performances gives it a humanity which transcends the melodrama. There is much grief, deaths in war, absence of husbands, affairs and betrayals, regrets. However, the film puts a human face on the characters and their behaviour.
1.A war film, a memoir, a tribute, romance, regrets?
2.The Manitoba settings, 1942, the summer, the farms and fields, the town, the air base? The coast? The musical score?
3.The aerial photography, the atmosphere of flying, the scenes of the countryside, the training, the crash?
4.The title, its focus on relationships, relationships in war and the uncertainties of the future?
5.The introduction with the aerial shots, Lachlan and Johnny? Their flying, landing in the field, meeting Kate and Lil? The farm, meeting the father? Dennis? His preparing to go to war? The setting for the following events? The war situation, Canada and its involvement, Australian pilots in Canada?
6.The air base, the lectures, the spirit of the pilots, Zeek? The flight sequences, the dormitory, the depressed young man and his suicide flight? Zeek, the failure of the plane, the crash, the death of the pilot, the burning plane, his asking Lachlan to shoot him?
7.The men from the base, the dance, the women in the town? The discussions in the dormitory, Kipper and his racist attitude, the bashing of the African American? Zeek stepping in, his attack on Kipper? The clashes and rivalry between Lachlan and Kipper? At the end, the shooting, Lachlan’s attack on Kipper?
8.Johnny, engaged to Kate, the plans, his training, at home with Lil and Dennis? Lil and her work on the farm, her husband absent at war? Her sister-in-law – and the comments on Betsy and her behaviour?
9.Betsy, her children, trying to get her daughter not to swear, the promise of the dress? The comic touches? Her clients at the farm? Her work on the farm? The relationship with Zeek, a future? At the dance, her quips? The visit of Kipper and his men, pulling the gun on him? Lachlan and his visit, Zeek’s death, Lachlan with her and Lil seeing?
10.Lachlan and Lil, the meeting, going to the fields, the gift of the flowers, reciting the poetry, Lil and her falling in love, the reluctance about the affair, going to the beach? The message delivered and the announcement of a death, the audience uncertain, the revelation that it was Dennis? Lil and her saying that she had to think of a choice between Frank and Dennis, the kiss, her confessing to Lachlan, the sister-in-law seeing her, her telling Kate and her father the truth, the father and his compassion, Kate and her not understanding?
11.The presentation of ordinary life, the difficulties, the differences in war, love, weakness, loneliness? The consequences of war?
