SAINT MAYBE

US, 1998, 98 minutes, Colour.
Blythe Danner, Edward Hermann, Glynis O’ Connor, Mary Louise Parker, Thomas Mc Carthy.
Directed by Michael Pressman.

Saint Maybe is based on a novel by Anne Tyler, author of The Accidental Tourist and Earthly Possessions which were also made into films.

The film focuses on an unusual family with its dark secrets. The central character is Ian, a devout and earnest young man who understands the secrets but tries to protect the next generation from them. The film offers reflection on themes of family, American spirit as well as more explicitly religious themes of sin and redemption.

The cast is led by Blythe Danner and Edward Hermann, veterans of many telemovies. The film also features Mary Louise Parker. Direction is by Michael Pressman who began directing in the 1970s with telemovies and small-budget films. He went on to direct a number of television series.

1.Anne Tyler and her work, the Hallmark Channel and its promotion of family values?

2.The television audience, the impact for American audiences, non-Americans? Sentiment and goodness? With edge?

3.The action of the film over the 1960s to the 1980s, the town itself, the homes, the workplaces, church? The musical score?

4.The title and its focus on Ian? Also relating to Danny, to Lucy? The meaning of the holiness, and the uncertainty with ‘maybe’?

5.The film and the nature of goodness, good-natured attitudes, goodwill? Victims, sin? Repentance and the opportunity for a second chance and atonement? The specifically religious focus, the church, the minister? Advice and sermons? Attitude towards God? Attitude towards parents? Ian and the children? The members of the church?

6.Ian, his family, his parents? Nice, his age? Studies? Relating to Daniel, to Lucy? Suspicions? His talking, Cicely and the others? Babysitting? His anger? The crash, his response? Lucy’s death? Overhearing things? Dot and the truth? The voice and Dan? The minister, giving up college? Brant, the children, relating to them, the passing of the years, the reliance on the church? The mother ill, cleaning up? The visit, the mother-in-law? The girls? Marriage and happiness?

7.The parents and their ordinariness, the ordinary Tuesday? Wedding, children, death? Coping or not? The passing of the years? Ten years older? Happy Heart? The doctor? The death of the dog? Together, the final walk?

8.Daniel and Lucy, the bowls, the proposal? Marriage, pregnancy, birth? Ian and death? Coming in death to pay?

9.Lucy, audience suspicions of her? The others agreeing? Ian and his attitude? The death, learning but failing? The truth – shoplifting, friendliness and friends? Dot and its being too late?

10.Claudia, character, the family?

11.Cicely, her love – and the ending?

12.The characters of Rita and Daphne?

13.The doctor and his life, mellowing? As a girl? As a teenager? As a doctor?

14.Brant and the contribution?

15.An interesting film – a wholesome film, with edge as well as sentiment?]