IN THE LAND OF WOMEN

US, 2007, 97 minutes, Colour.
Meg Ryan, Olympia Dukakis, Adam Brody, Kristen Stewart, Jo Beth Williams, Makenzie Vega.
Directed by Jonathan Kasdan.

The title sounds far too solemn and serious for the actual film. It is about the land of women, both geographical in a small suburban setting as well as psychological in families and neighbours.

Adam Brody portrays a young screenwriter (who writes softcore pornography as well as children’s stories) who is dismayed when he is dumped by his film star girlfriend. He takes refuge at his grandmother’s house – as played (as usual) by Olympia Dukakis, she is a comic blend of death wish, offhand humour and worldly wisdom. However, it is the women in the neighbouring house who have an effect on him.

He first comes across the teenage daughter of the house (Kristen Stewart) and her precocious younger sister. He serves as something of a sounding board for them while being caught up in their home and school problems. Then he meets their mother, Meg Ryan, who is upset by her husband’s infidelity, her inability to communicate with her daughter, her regrets concerning the life she might have led in New York. This is complicated by a diagnosis of breast cancer and her chemotherapy and hospitalisation.

There is nothing particularly new here. What holds the interest is the dialogue and the working out of the tensions among the characters. The film is a first for writer director, Jon Kasdan (son of director Lawrence Kasdan and brother of Jake Kasdan).

1.A contemporary drama? Families? Relationships? Change?

2.The title, the focus on the different women, the generations of women?

3.The Michigan settings, homes, outings, the streets? Ordinary suburbia? The musical score? The range of songs, their lyrics and comment on the action and characters?

4.Carter Webb, his age, career, soft porn writer, children’s stories? With the celebrity? Sofia, the talk, the break-up? Talking with his mother, her support? His concern about the script? His boss? The decision to go to Michigan, be by himself, stay with his grandmother and care for her? The encounter with the Hardwicke family? Lucy, Sarah, Paige? The set-up for the Land of Women?

5.Phyllis, her age, cantankerous, friendly? Alone? Talking about death? Hungry? Sarah and her cookies? Listening to Carter, giving him advice?

6.Lucy, her age, her sister, relationship with their mother, at home, the father? The alienation? The anger? Sarah and her telling about the lump in her breast? The need for surgery?

7.Carter, his relationships, taking his computer, Sarah and the cookies, meeting her, walking and talking, confidential about relationships, his talk about letters and emails and his break-up with Sofia? Whether he was a good listener or not? Jogging? His memories?

8.Sarah as a character, Meg Ryan’s style? The details of her ordinary life, her explanations, wanting to have a last word? Affirming Carter? Her husband, his affair?

9.The issue of cancer, discussion of it, the family, the parents, the daughters? Sarah and her talking with her husband, reassessing her relationship? Her dependence on Carter? Hugging him, her enthusiasm about her New York past – hopes or not for the future?

10.The date, the poster of Sofia, meeting Eric, in the club, Paige and her talk, the talk about school? Lucy wanting him to go out with her? Confiding about her father’s affair, her mother being old, not able to kiss her?

11.Sarah and her response to the cancer, the rain, the kiss – the post-chemo experience? Seeing Carter with Lucy and kissing – and her anger?

12.The party, Gabe as Lucy’s boyfriend, her inhibitions with him? The fight and the punch? Eric stepping in? Lucy confiding to Carter about what had happened to her when she was eleven? He saying it was no big deal? Getting her to wake up? Her kissing him?

13.Sarah and her painting, cutting her hair, the scenes in hospital, the talks with Lucy and the reconciliation?

14.Carter, the phone call to Sofia? The party? Her previous phone call and wanting to reconnect? Phyllis’s advice? His writing the letter to Sarah – and the voice-over of his reading it aloud?

15.Lucy, a future with Eric?

16.Discovering Phyllis dead, the book for her? His realisation what had happened, his change? The discussions with his mother?

17.Sarah, having the final word? The word about herself, her husband, her children? With Carter? Carter’s final word – and his future?