IRRESISTIBLE
Australia, 2006, 103 minutes, Colour.
Susan Sarandon, Sam Neill, Emily Blunt, Bud Tingwell, William Mc Innes, Georgie Parker, Terry Norris, Lauren Mikkor, Heather Mitchell, Jill Forster.
Directed by Ann Turner.
There are three central characters in this domestic drama (which has a kind of terror film edge as it develops). There is the wife and mother of two, an illustrator, who is married to her husband, a successful architect, who is the object of fascination by one of his secretaries who is also intrigued by the wife. But, it is not easy to say which of these characters is irresistible let alone to whom.
That description is meant to be intriguing. Who are these characters and what are the connections?
First of all, the married couple seem perfectly normal, married for ten years with two nice daughters. Both are more than competent in their jobs. However, the wife has just lost her mother and her grief sends her into depressive moods in which she seems to be imagining things. The husband meanwhile deals honourably with the advances of his secretary. She, however, does not seem to be too worried about feeling guilty.
In fact, there are several secrets which come to light gradually, especially in the explanations of the weird experiences of the wife. The hauntings have a more than very natural explanation.
The setting is Melbourne. The stars are Susan Sarandon as the wife (with an explanation for her American accent), Sam Neill as the husband and Emily Blunt (My Summer of Love, The Devil Wears Prada) as the enigmatic secretary.
Direction is by Ann Turner who has made only a few feature films during the last 18 years: Celia, Hammers over the Anvil (which starred Charlotte Rampling and Russell Crowe) and Dallas Doll. As the film veers towards the madness and violence ending, secrets are revealed – especially with one final unexpected twist that has shock emotional impact.
1.The blend of drama, psychological thriller, melodrama?
2.The Australian setting, the Melbourne locations, homes, streets, workplaces? The musical score?
3.The impact for Australian audiences? Worldwide audiences? Universal themes?
4.The title, references? To each of the main characters?
5.Susan Sarandon as Sophie? The portrait of Sophie? First seeing her with the children, in the street, hopscotch? Her relationship to her girls? Going into the house, the fear about the iron, its being off, the suggestions of madness – noises, photos disappearing? Her relationship with Craig, pleasant, the ten years? Her work as an illustrator? Her mother’s death, her grief? Her art and her success, her creative block? The pressures from her editor? The awards? The expectations, her going out for the anniversary celebration? Craig and his insisting she buy the dress, the choice? Meeting Mara, at the party, wearing the same dress, Mara’s reaction and change? At the party, talking, drinking, outside with Mara, uncomfortable with Mara? The dancing? At home, the missing dress? The advice that she should join AA? Ruby’s doll and its being missing? Ruby’s tantrums, her being distracting, overdosing Ruby and having to get her to be sick? Getting upset, the explanations? The gift of the owl, her birthday, the wasps? Her memories, the dreams, imagining the wasps and the owls?
6.The revelation of the past, her American background, her father, marrying her American mother, the mother coming to Melbourne, feeling isolated? Her studies at the university, becoming pregnant, the child taken from her? Being young, going to work? Meeting Craig, marrying, the girls, the passing of the years and her not telling him the truth?
7.The wasps, the effect on her, going to the hospital? Mara’s visits? Her beginning to be suspicious of Mara, the car, the dresses? Following her, going to the art exhibition, running away? Following her to the house? To the cemetery? Mara’s visits? The being in the house, being caught, the court case, her behaviour in the court, the judge’s reaction? The girls and their reaction, Craig and his disbelief? The girls going to her father’s place? Her relationship with her father, discussions, sympathy? The growing clashes with Craig and his not understanding? Her anger and suspicions, ousting him?
8.The house, its being locked, the discoveries, the disappearance of the cat, the doll, her going into Mara’s house again? In the crawlspace, locked in? The truth, the documents, her realisation? Trying to attract the girls’ attention, the fire?
9.The portrait of the girls, their relationship to their mother, playing with her, wariness, her moodiness? The mystery and her being paranoid? The growing tensions?
10.Craig, pleasant man, architect and his gifts, at the office, the admiration of the women, Mara and her flattery? At home, the celebration, ten years married, going to the party, the dress? Ordinary, working, working at home, Sophie going to the weekender to work, the phone call and her discovering Mara at home, ousting her? His not believing his wife? The owl, the wasps? The tension at the office, Mara and her attempts at seduction, saved by the phone? Sophie’s anger? In the court? His going away, his bond with the girls?
11.Mara, attractive, at the office, her support of Craig? Her own husband, daughter? The party, the same dress as Sophie, changing, talking with Sophie, dancing, going outside, making Sophie uncomfortable? The visits? The car parked in the street? The other dresses and the disappearance? The mystery, her seeing Sophie following her to the art exhibition? The injunction, her testimony in the court? At home, the visits to the house, working with Craig, at the office, the attempt at seduction? Her relationship with her husband? Knowing Sophie was in the basement, locking her in? Dancing with the girls, the loud noise? Her picking them up from school? The fire, the confrontation?
12.At the hospital, Sophie and the truth, telling Craig? The documents? Visiting Mara, hearing the story? The bond? Her explaining her life to Mara, her youth, the baby taken away, the reason for her not telling? Her refusal to give information to her daughter?
13.Mara’s husband, his suspicions, the court case, animosity?
14.Sophie’s father, her friends and the discussion about AA, Sophie and her seeming to be mad, paranoid, the audience knowing the truth? Her being haunted by Mara?
15.Mara and her friend, Kosovo, the photos? Her talking to Sophie? The bond between mother and daughter? The background of the orphanage, the friendship – and the irony of the audience realising that the daughter was dead and that Mara was taking the daughter’s identity?
16.The finale – and a suitable ending for the blending of drama and melodrama?
