MRS LAMBERT REMEMBERS LOVE:
US, 1991, 100 minutes, Colour.
Ellen Burstyn, Walter Matthau.
Directed by Charles Matthau.
Mrs Lambert Remembers Love is a telemovie about ageing. It offers an opportunity for Ellen Burstyn to portray an elderly widow, caring for her grandson, the gradual deterioration of her memory, her wanting to leave home and visit old friends with her grandson. Walter Matthau as a genial and close friend of Mrs Lambert. The film is one of many telemovies of the 80s and 90s tackling problems that face an ageing population. Other films include Do You Remember Love? with Joanne Woodward coping with Alzheimer’s Disease.
1. The appeal of the telemovie? Interest? Stars? Themes?
2. The Californian town settings, the Californian countryside, the cities, San Francisco? Atmosphere, musical score?
3. The title, the focus on Mrs Lambert, her life, her memories and loss, ageing, death?.
4. Ellen Burstyn’s portrait of Lil: her age, memories of her life, her dead husband? The house, caring for Gerard? Preparing his meal and getting him up in the middle of the night? The celebration of her birthday and her giving a gift? The long friendship with Cliff? The memory lapses around the house? The visit to Gloria in the home - and the possibility for her? Cousin Mitch and his wife, her dislike of them, the question of custody of Gerard? Her decision to leave, taking Gerard with her? Taking the money, the old car? The visiting the cousins and the experience with them? The search for the bus driver of the past, going to the bus depot? The money, loosing the money? Her being hurt, run over by the truck? The resultant bed and breakfast and her uncertainty as to the rituals? The taking of the car? On the station in the middle of the night, going to San Francisco? Sharing with Gerard, the cable car, the loss of the money, her collapse? In Hospital? The visit of Cliff, his proposal? The wedding? Her dream, memories, her husband, love for her grandson, love for Cliff? Dying on the operating table - letting go and dying?
5. Gerard, the death of his parents, with his Grandmother, the small boy, at school? His dreams? Nightmares? Love for his Grandmother, caring for her? Her erratic behaviour, the lapses? Friendship with Cliff? The birthday party? Travelling with his Grandmother, his wisdom, the visit to the cousins, the question of the money, the bus depot search? Her being knocked over, the bed and breakfast? His decision to go to San Francisco? The delight in the cable car? The brochure about the old people’s home and the possibility of his going there with his Grandmother? The money and its loss, the cable car, her collapse? Cliff and the wedding? Cliff wanting to adopt him - and his concern that Cliff might die? His future?
6. Cliff as a genial elderly man, looking at the cake in the shop, baking the cake, the birthday gift? His love for Lil and concern? His dislike of Mitch and his wife? The visit to the school board and the question of the adoption? Going to the police, the search? Hospital, the proposal, the wedding? The extent of his grief and his containing it? The promise to Gerard and adopting him?
7. Mitch and his style, his wife, their plan, greed, wanting Lil's house, the visits? The inspector and the interviews? The school board? And the irony of Lil
seeing them on a dancing competition on television?
8. The portrait of the town, life at the school, the principal, the inspectors, concern about children? The police and the genial chief and his search?.
9. The people on the road, cousins, the bus depot, the truckies?
10. The hospital staff and their sharing Lil's experience, the wedding? A blend of the serious and the sentimental? Significant themes for the 90s?
