LA WITHOUT A MAP
France/UK, 1998, 107 minutes, Colour.
David Tennant, Vinessa Shaw, Saskia Reeves, Julie Delpy, Cameron Bancroft with cameos by Monty Hellmann, Vincent Gallo, Amanda Plummer, Jerzy Skolimowski, Don Ranvaud, James le Gros, Christa Lang, Robert Dabi, Anouk Aimee, Johnny Depp, Mika Kaurismaki.
Directed by Mika Kaurismaki.
LA Without a Map is a light British comedy directed by a celebrated Finnish director (brother of Arki Kaurismaki).
An American actress visits Bradford in Yorkshire and has a relationship with the local undertaker who writes obituaries for the paper. She is played by Vinessa Shaw (The Hills Have Eyes) and he is played by David Tennant (later to become television’s Doctor Who).
There is a good English cast for the British scenes. However, when the actress goes back to America and works in her café, the love-smitten man follows her only to find out the truth and the double-dealings in Hollywood. A number of Americans appear in guest roles including the director Monty Hellmann. Julie Delpy Joe d’Alessandro (from the Andy Warhol/ Paul Morrissey films), Anouk Aimee and Johnny Depp make guest appearances.
The film is pleasant, a different look at Hollywood.
1.The autobiographical film? The comic touches? The British sequences? American? The international appeal?
2.The Bradford settings, the Yorkshire city, the ordinary routines, the humdrum life? The contrast with LA and its famous glamour – but also its realities of cafes, hard work, Hollywood? The cast? The musical score?
3.The title and its irony, Richard and his experience in Hollywood?
4.Richard’s story, the voice-over, the cemetery, his work as an undertaker, his writing the obituaries? Life in Bradford? His friends, his relationship with Joy? The party, his prospects?
5.His meeting Barbara, the cemetery, their talk, her stories about acting, his writing? Marie? The company? The effect of the relationship? His decision to follow Barbara to America?
6.Los Angeles and his prospects, the restaurant, Julie, Barbara working there, Monty Hellmann and the others in the restaurant?
7.The car, stripped, the apartment, Barbara, the pools? Music, the Leningrad Cowboys (from Arki Kaurismaki’s films)? Sharing, joy, the prospect of marriage?
8.Takowsky, the agent and his behaviour? His manner, suicide? The parties and Scott? The audition and the temptations?
9.Richard and his obsessions, Barbara and her reaction? The clash, Scott and the bet?
10.With Julie, his other friends, love? The drama of the fight, the pool? Dreams and reality? Jail and the agent?
11.Disillusionment with Los Angeles, the relationship with Barbara, Richard and the changes, his returning to Bradford? His having to start again?
12.The film as a light look at the Hollywood nightmare? From the British film-making point of view?
13.The importance of the range and gallery of characters? In Bradford, ordinary people, in ordinary settings? The Los Angeles gallery of characters, in the restaurants, the hotels, the pool owner, the music store, the Leningrad Cowboys, the minister, the man with the script, the various guests? A cross-section of Hollywood and Los Angeles people?
