LOVE HURTS

US, 1991, 106 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Daniels, Judith Ivey, Cynthia Sikes, Amy Wright, Cloris Leachman, John Mahoney.
Directed by Bud Yorkin.

Love Hurts is a story of American families and their break down, the effect on middle-aged men and women - and the questioning of break up and reconciliation. The film is directed by veteran Bud Yorkin. It was written by Ron Nyswaner, writer of Smithereens and writer and director of The Prince of Pennsylvania.

The film is familiar material - quite well done, relying on the strength of its cast. Jeff Daniels specialises in this kind of role (Checking Out, Something Wild). Judith Ivey is effective as the woman who comes into his life. Cloris Leachman and John Mahony play his parents. Interesting, if familiar, material.

1. A portrait of American family life, the break up of family life, values? How perceptive on families?

2. The New York and Pennsylvania settings, the roads, New York City and the taxis, homes, sporting fields? Authentic atmosphere? The range of songs?

3. The title and its application, especially to Paul - but to the other characters?

4. The portrait of Paul: in New York City, exasperation, hard work? His divorce, restlessness, alone, travelling? The purpose in his life? His relationship to his family, going to Karen’s' wedding? The wedding as the catalyst for his examination of himself? The near accident with Susan and her son? Going home, his relationship to his father, his father's drinking? His mother and her love and control? Nancy and her antagonism? His relationship with his children? The aggravation in coming home, wanting to leave? The chance meeting with Susan and her son? Flirting, discovering the truth about her going to the wedding? His return to his home? The episode with Sarah stealing? His father and his taking the car, drinking, Paul pursuing him? The drinking, the evening with Doug and talk about family and marriage? The police bringing them home? His decision to leave again, returning yet again? Nancy's further attack on him and his womanising?

5. The themes of going home, leaving home? Paul's need for search, his failures, the need for help? the possibilities of reconciliation?

6. Going with Susan to the motel, his relationship with her, his saying that he was too respectful of her for the encounter to be fulfilled? Sarah's leaving home, his feigning the heart attack? The reaction, the reconciliation? Going back to New York - the credibility of this experience? A basis for his future?

7. The portrait of Susan, her broken marriage, her son, the car and the encounter with Paul, her going to the wedding? Going to the baseball and enjoying it? Her relationship with Karen? Going to the house, participating in the wedding? The aftermath, her decision to go to the motel, Paul's departure?

8. Paul's parents, their parenting, the past? Boomer and his drinking, taking the car? Paul's mother as proper? The night with Doug and the talking? The wedding and the ceremony?

9. Nancy, her bitterness, Sarah and David? Their attitude towards him? Their life, her anger? Tension? Paul and the verbal clashes? Sarah and her rebellion and the stealing? Wanting to leave? Her reaction to her father's heart condition? Nancy and Paul and their discussions about sexual relationships? The bond between them, the bitterness and the breaking, the reconciliation?

10. Karen and Doug, characters, the wedding, nerves, Doug and the drinking, the discussions? The ceremony and their future?

11. The portrait of Doug's family, the preparation and participation in the wedding?

1.American themes of family and marriage?