THE THEORY OF FLIGHT
UK, 1999, 101 minutes, Colour.
Helena Bonham Carter, Kenneth Branagh, Gemma Jones, Holly Aird.
Directed by Paul Greengrass.
The Theory of Flight is a rather esoteric name for this film about relationships. Flight is used as a metaphor throughout the film, much aerial photography, focus on planes, actual flying.
However, the film focuses on a young woman with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, gradual motor disintegration and an early death. She is played very well by Helena Bonham Carter, completely credible as someone suffering from the disease. However, she is also a feisty character – but also wants sexual experience before she dies. She is cared for by her mother, played by Gemma Jones.
Kenneth Branagh plays a disillusioned middle-aged man, clashing with his girlfriend played by Holly Aird, doing eccentric things including studying flight, wanting to hang-glide from the top of a London bank, reconstruct a plane. In court, he is sentenced to community service and is to be a carer for the young woman. She is cantankerous. He replies in the same vein. However, they gradually form a friendship as he takes her on outings. She raises the issue of sexuality. He questions a gigolo about the possibility. However, she learns the value of friendship before the sexual consummation.
The film is well crafted and well acted. Of particular interest is the fact that it was directed by Paul Greengrass. Maker of a number of documentaries as well as feature films, he made the award-winning Bloody Sunday and Omagh. From then he moved to Hollywood and made The Bourne Supremacy, United 93 and The Bourne Ultimatum. He received great acclaim for these Hollywood films, bringing his documentary skills to the feature film.
1.The impact of the film? Character study? Illness and death? Friendship? Sexuality?
2.The title, the flying sequences, the hang-gliding, the reconstruction of the plane, Jane and her wanting to fly with Richard, the symbol of freedom? The landing in the hills – and a return to the ordinariness of life? The location photography? The musical score?
3.The initial focus on Richard, his age, exasperation with his work, his relationship with his girlfriend? His voice-over, trying to explain himself? His confusion? The hang-gliding, the girlfriend pleading, his falling to the mattress? In court? His explanations? The community service? Going to Jane, her cantankerous response? The discussions with her mother? The outings, her not enjoying them, being bored? The gradual friendship, talking? His response to her comment about sexual experience? His own diffidence? Pursuing the gigolo, the discussions with him? The meaning of friendship? The shared experiences, the flight, the daring? The sexual experience? His response to her deterioration? The discussions with the girlfriend, telling her the truth? The sudden surprise of the happy ending and his marrying his girlfriend?
4.The character of Jane, young, her illness, deterioration? Strong character? Confined to the wheelchair, with her mother? The carers? Her behaviour towards them? With Richard, the outings, her being disagreeable? Gradually mellowing, the discussions, the sexual issue, her discussions, her motivation? The gigolo and her watching the questioning? Her wanting to fly, the experience of flying, shared experience with Richard? The sexual experience? Her stepping back, ready to die? Her celebrating at Richard’s wedding?
5.Jane’s mother, love, care, discussions with Richard?
6.The gigolo, expensive, the discussion with Richard? Richard and his plans to rob the bank, getting ready, the comic futility of this ambition?
7.A more robust look at terminal illness and the possibilities of life before dying? The discoveries of friendship? The use of the theory of flight and actual flight as a metaphor?
