FINGERS

US, 1978, 90 minutes, Colour.
Harvey Keitel, Tisa Farrow, Jim Brown, Michael V. Gazzo, Marian Seldes, Danny Aiello, Tanya Roberts.
Directed by James Toback.

Fingers is the second feature film by writer-director James Toback. He was to make a series of small-budget idiosyncratic films during the 80s and 90s and into the beginning of the 21st century. Examples are Love and Money, Exposed and The Pick-up Artist. In the late 90s he made Two Girls and a Guy and Black and White. His 2004 film, When Will I Be Loved, is an eccentric piece of self-indulgent film-making.

The film focuses on a character played by Harvey Keitel, son of a Mafia don, a collector of loan repayments. However, his mother has been a concert pianist and he has ambitions to be a pianist himself. He always carries around a radio to play popular songs. The film shows the contradictions in his character – the two sides fighting against each other with the violent side winning.

The film also features Jim Brown, the footballer-turned-film star in the 70s as well as Mia Farrow’s sister, Tisa. Michael V. Gazzo is the father.

The film recreates the atmosphere of New York life of the times, the isolation of the central character, his immersion in the violent society of the city. The film is interesting – although something of a portrait of evil. Fifteen years later, Abel Ferrara was to use Harvey Keitel in a more extreme presentation of this kind of character in Bad Lieutenant.

Fingers was remade in France in 2004 under the title The Beat That My Heart Skipped directed by Jacques Audiard and starring Romain Duris.

1.The classic status of the film – and the basis for a French remake? The work of James Toback, his career? His idiosyncratic film-making, his bleak outlook on life, evil characters? A perspective on American society?

2.The New York settings, the city in the 70s, apartments, clubs and restaurants?

3.The musical score, Jimmy and his playing of the classics, carrying his radio, the popular hits of the 50s and 60s? His stances on music? Expecting others to listen – and the violent incident in the restaurant? His audition before the master, his failure to play well?

4.The title, Jimmy Fingers as a collector of loans? His playing the piano? His exercising his fingers – and miming playing while listening to music? Fingers as a success, as a failure?

5.The portrait of Jimmy, Harvey Keitel’s performance? The long sequences of his playing the piano, its effect on him, his emotions and imagination? His love of music? The encounter with Carol, the sexual relationship, meeting her, following her to Dreems? Her being Dreems’s girl? The chance encounter in the hotel with Julie, the sexual relationship? Later meeting Crystal – and the threesome with Carol and Dreems? His acts of kindness towards people on the street? His meal with his father, his father giving him the job, the revelation of his career as a collector, as being hard? His going into action, his brutality in the pizza place, the confrontations, the language, the violence, his getting the money? The harder mission and his phone-calling the businessman, watching him, the relationship with Julie, the phone calls? The threats? His turning up for the rendezvous – and the thugs and the confrontation? His later meeting Butch? His returning to play the piano? His musical needs, sexual needs, violent outlets? His going to see his mother and her contempt of him? His finding his father dead and his wanting revenge? Going to the audition – and the failure of nerve, inability to play? What was he finally left with? A portrait of an evil man – with some potential for good?

6.The women in the film, in themselves, their relationship with Jimmy? His meeting Carol, following her, going home, the encounter, the driving and her considering him reckless, his hitting the car, the insurance change of cards? Later with her and with Dreems? Crystal? The chance encounter with Julie, her relationship with the gangster boss – the party his revenge? The women in themselves, relationships, promiscuous?

7.Jimmy’s father, his reputation, collector? His illness? At the restaurant, talking to Jimmy, sympathetic, wanting him to do the job, praising his skills? His being found dead? His mother, the concert pianist, in an institution, Jimmy’s visit, her hostility?

8.Dreems, his club, the clientele, Carol and Crystal? The interactions with Jimmy?

9.The Italians, the loans, gambling? Repayments, the taunting of the collector – and receiving violent results? The gangster boss, his ignoring his debts?

10.The sleazier aspects of life in New York City? Anything redemptive?