SAFE

US, 1995, 119 minutes, Colour.
Julianne Moore, Xander Berkeley, Peter Friedman.
Directed by Todd Haynes.

Safe was the second feature film by writer-director Todd Haynes. He made an impact in the early 1990s with a rather exotic piece, Poison, based on some themes of Jean Genet. He followed this with his film about Glam Rock, Velvet Goldmine. He also made Far from Heaven, with Julieanne Moore, which received a number of Oscar nominations (and a SIGNIS commendation at the Venice film festival of 2002). His most ambitious film was his portrait of various facets of Bob Dylan’s character, I’m Not There.

Safe is a medical thriller. It is also a portrait of an upper-middle class American woman who seems to lack personality. She is safe in her environment. However, the film focuses on the environment, the toxins in the air, food, our way of life. The heroine, played very well by Julieanne Moore, succumbs and becomes more and more ill. Her husband, sympathetically played by Xander Berkeley, does not understand but supports her. Finally, she goes to a New Age spa to recover but finds that it is run by a cliché-spouting manager.

The film highlights, at least for the affluent First World, the dangers of environmental poisoning.

1.The impact of the film, a psychological drama? The nightmare of the soul according to some critics? The American context, style, environment?

2.The work of Todd Haynes, his visual style, use of colour, the house, the frequent use of long shots and the action taking place at a distance? The camera meandering with Carol? The editing pace? The musical score?

3.The title, for Carol, for people in general, Americans, the safety or not of the environment? The toxic atmosphere?

4.Julieanne Moore’s portrait of Carol, her wealth, social status, her relationship with her husband, the relationship to her stepson? The sexual aspects of the marriage? Her passive reaction? Her passive life, wandering the house, occupying her day, going to aerobics, chatting in the locker room, the women’s envy of her not sweating, her friends and talking, going out for meals, diets? The affluent American woman?

5.Greg, his son, marrying Carol, loving her, his being busy, exasperated, the sexual aspects, his being mystified, the care, concern? His support, going to the groups, attending the meetings, the phone calls, visiting the camp?

6.Carol, her continued illness, listless, her cough in the fumes following the truck, the various poisons, going to the doctor, her seemingly physically fit, his exasperation with her visits, the various toxins, at the party with the pregnant woman, her collapse, hospital? The brochure, the interview with the psychiatrist, ineffective, her wanting him to ask questions? The group work? Going to the resort? The therapy? The discussions? The conversations with Peter, with Claire?

7.The information about toxins, the film shifting focus halfway through, from Carol’s illness in itself, to the causes?

8.Carol, the groups, the hospital, her frailty?

9.At the resort, the people, Claire and her welcome, working with the groups, her sobbing, Peter and his talk, therapy, the visit of her husband, ready to go home or not? The possibility of coping?

10.The 1990s, the message for that time, later? The reality of environmental poison? For pampered Americans? A parable for others?