MARVIN'S ROOM

US, 1996, 98 minutes, Colour.
Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Leonardo di Caprio, Robert de Niro, Hume Cronyn, Gwen Verdon, Victor Garber, Dan Hedaya.
Directed by Jerry Zaks

Sisters Bessie and Lee have not been in communication for twenty years. Bessie has remained at home caring for their father Marvin, and their childlike aunt, Ruth. When Bessie is diagnosed as having leukemia, she is told that a bone marrow transplant from a healthy relative will help her.

Lee lives with her son Hank and attends a college of cosmetology. Hank is disturbed and has tried to burn down their home. He has been in an institution. She decides that it would be something of a relief to go to Bessie.

The reunion is amicable and Lee has the test. However, Hank is unwilling. Eventually he does have a test. Difficulties soon arise. However, Bessie and Hank get along very well and when Hank runs away, he leaves a note for Bessie rather than his mother.

When all the tests prove negative, Bessie resigns herself to her illness and looking after the family. Lee wants to return home, but Hank confronts her and they decide to stay.

Marvin's Room is set in Florida, but it is also `Secrets and Lies' territory. The family conflict here is not as intense and is more briefly, and sometimes more sketchily, portrayed. However, it touches on pain and regrets, especially between two sisters who have not seen each other for almost 20 years.

Diane Keaton gives a sympathetic performance as Bessie, the sister who has never married and who has stayed to look after her senile and bed-ridden father (Hume Cronyn). Meryl Streep is the callow Lee who has tried to make a life of her own but cannot communicate with her emotionally disturbed son (Leonardo di Caprio). It was Diane Keaton who received an Oscar nomination rather than Meryl Streep. Robert de Niro has something of a cameo role as the sympathetic doctor.

The play and screenplay were written by Scott McPherson? who died of an AIDS-related illness and so writes from inside characters who are ill and their situations.

The film shows how families get opportunities for reconciliation if only they can recognise them and have the courage and the love to act on them. The movie provides a moving (and thoughtful) experience.

1.The impact of the film? The familiarity of the plot? The quality of the performances? Insight and emotion?

2.Ohio settings? Florida settings? The ordinariness of life in Ohio? The different, sun-drenched atmosphere of Florida? Yet the common way of life? The musical score? Carly Simon’s song?

3.The title, the focus on Marvin, his not being a central character? His place in the family? His experience of dying? The different characters and their different attitudes in terms of helping him, going into his room?

4.The family, memories of the past, the dying mother, the father and his twenty years of dying, inability to communicate, dying slowly? Aunt Ruth in the household and her lack of confidence? Bessie staying at home and caring for her father? Lee going away and making a life for herself? The grandchildren who didn’t know they had a grandfather, their coming to Florida, the discovery?

5.The character of Marvin, old, in bed, being fed, the accidents, communication? The final close-up of his face?

6.Bessie, her age, staying with her father? Her decisions in life? Her later telling Lee about her falling in love with the carnival boy, the picnic, his jumping into the water, the pathos of his death? Her not being able to tell anyone? A good woman, caring? A touch exasperated but keeping going? Her patience with Aunt Ruth, getting Aunt Ruth to give the tablets regularly, watching the television programs? Her going to the doctor, the discussions with Doctor Wally, his seeming inefficiency? The test, the possible vitamin deficiency? The discovery that she had leukaemia? The treatment, the loss of hair? Her ringing Lee, the contact after twenty years? Her accepting blame in the lack of communication? Her welcoming him into the house, the clashes with Lee? Lee’s prickliness? Befriending Hank, talking with him, his reaction against her, her perseverance, going out with him, listening to him, challenging him with questions? His keeping her company, driving the car, the exhilarating driving on the beach and its effect on her? Her care for Charlie and Charlie being kind to her father? The possibility of the bone marrow? The test, Hank and his ups and downs, feeling that he was being put upon? His hesitation? His finally consenting? The sadness that they were not compatible? Lee and the frank talk with Bessie? Close and not close? Her designing her wig? The prospects for the future? At least the family reconciling?

7.Lee, tough? Having left home, marrying her husband, the stories of his brutality, going? Her raising the two boys? Her harshness with Hank? His burning down the house, going to the institution? Her work, beauty consultant, working in the salon, doing her exam? Feeling that it was a time for herself? The visit to the psychiatrist, the clash? Visiting Hank, his being asleep? The phone call from Bessie, the decision? The pressure on Hank? The drive down, the clashes about the radio, the music? Her love for her son, yet harsh? Love for Charlie? Her seeing her father, the effect on her? Bessie, the arguments? The clashes with Hank, his sitting in the car, getting him into the house, demanding that he have the test? The pressures on him? His running away and her reading the note? The test, the non-compatibility? Listening to Bessie’s story, the reconciliation? The challenge to herself, to pack and go, to stay?

8.Aunt Ruth, her place in the house, getting old, her watching the television, knowing all the soap opera stories, befriending Charlie, watching together, her explanations to him? The future for her? The touch of the hypochondriac? Not able to take responsibility?

9.Hank, his age, experience? Tearing the photos of his mother and father in half, burning them, the house burning down? In the institution, his mother coming to visit? His angers? The news about Bessie, his not knowing that she existed? The travelling to Florida? Sitting in the car, his continued angers? His care for Charlie? Going in, finding Bessie friendly, yet resisting her outreach? Her giving him the tools and his appreciation? His fixing the garage door? Feeling that he was only wanted when he could be used? The hesitation about the decision? The pressure from his mother? Going out with Bessie, the drive on the beach? His going to accompany her, the decision to have himself tested? His running away, leaving the note for Bessie? The return? A possibility for the future? Bessie and her urging him to be his own man and live his own life?

10.Charlie, small, seemingly indifferent? Patient? His friendship with his grandfather, with Aunt Ruth and sharing things with her?

11.Doctor Wally, as a consultant, his manner, telling Bessie the truth? The tests?

12.Bob, his being on lithium, the discussions with Hank? His being very slow, Doctor Wally’s brother, phoning him, Wally and his kindness towards his brother?

13.The psychiatrist, the interview with Lee, her work with Hank?

14.Going to the retirement home, Bessie’s reaction and not liking the place, Lee wanting to like the place to put her father there? The smooth talk of the retirement home director?

15.The humanity of the film? The strength of the portraits? Dealing with illness? Dealing with family trials, malfunctioning families, listening, the truth, the possibilities for reconciliation? Hope?