A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE

US, 1995, 106 minutes, Colour.
Steve Martin, Gabriel Byrne, Laura Linney, Catherine O’ Hara, Alana Austin, Alyssa Austin, Stephen Baldwin, Michael Des Barres.
Directed by Gillies Mac Kinnon.

A Simple Twist of Fate is a screen adaptation of George Eliot’s brief novel, Silas Marner. It was adapted for the screen by Steve Martin who plays the central role. Silas Marner has been updated to the US in the 1980s.

Steve Martin is very good, playing serious, as a man disillusioned by his wife walking out on him and telling him that her child was not his. The film then moves forward to Michael Mc Cann as a miser, collecting gold coins, misanthropic. He finds a young woman at his door who gives birth to a child whom he adopts. As he grows older, he mellows and is devoted to the little girl. However, one of the sons of the local millionaire steals all his gold. He is portrayed by Stephen Baldwin.

The story comes to a head with the revelation of who the orphan is. Gabriel Byrne portrays the cold millionaire. Laura Linney is his wife.

The film is interesting in its ability to take a 19th century story, see the universal values in it and apply it to the United States in its own time. The film was directed by Gillies Mac Kinnon, a director of a number of significant British films, especially Regeneration, Hideous Kinky, Small Faces, Pure.

1.The title of the film and its meaning? The focus on fate, the meaning of fate? Twists of fate? The importance of coincidences – especially in the novels of the 19th century? The consequences?

2.The status of Silas Marner and George Eliot as a novelist? Her plots, characters, literary style? As adapted for the screen? For the 20th century? For the United States?

3.The film’s focus on the town, its details, the 1980s and 1990s? The school, homes? Affluence and poverty? The courts? The places of the seasons?

4.The musical score – the Scots overtones?

5.The introduction, the music, the baby, the information, the DNA? Michael Mc Cann as reclusive, the carpentry, his love for money, the collecting of the gold coins?

6.The Newland family: the brothers, their clash, rivalry? The role of politics, extravagance? Cars, the girl and the rejection? The night and the crash? Running, the gold and its disappearance, the death in the snow? Mathilda and the girl, the mother and her daughter, Michael Mc Cann? Going to the police? Newland, his disowning the woman, his relationship with his wife? The cover-up?

7.Michael Mc Cann as a character, as portrayed by Steve Martin? The opening, a younger man, his relationship with his wife, her telling him about the baby, her rejection of him? His becoming a recluse? The discovery of the baby and its effect? Getting permission to adopt? The role of April Simon, friendship, her help? His accepting the daughter?

8.Mathilda, her growing up, at various stages of her life, baby, little girl, older girl? Her playing, relationship with Michael? The air balloon? Her schooling, sitting at the cliff, the bonds between her adoptive father and herself? Aged ten, at school, the boys, the horses? Newland and the gift and his not telling her the truth?

9.The portrait of the Newlands, John and Nancy? Their sons? The miscarriage? The truth about what had happened, the effect on John Newland? The decisions? The lawyers? Mathilda overhearing the truth?

10.The court case, both sides represented, the questions, April and the botching of the issue? The judge and his decisions in favour?

11.The water scheme, the finding of the skeleton, the gold?

12.Mathilda, the pressures on her, her finally acting?

13.Mathilda’s future? The future of the Newlands? Winning and losing? The consequences for Michael Mc Cann’s life?