LITTLE CITY

US, 1997, 93 minutes, Colour.
Jon Bon Jovi, Penelope Ann Miller, Josh Charles, Annabella Sciorra, Jo Beth Williams, Joanna Going.
Directed by Roberto Benabib.

The Little City of the title is a restaurant bar in San Francisco. Characters played by Jon Bon Jovi and Penelope Ann Miller work there. This film is a portrait of thirtysomethings and their interconnections, relationships, break-ups.

The film is also a picture of young people who want to confide in others. Jon Bon Jovi as Kevin confides in a group. Annabella Sciorra’s Nina goes to confession. Josh Charles’s Adam confides in a taxi guide. Joanna Going’s Kate goes to a therapist.

The film is slight in some ways – although the cast is strong and each creates a strong character so that people who might dismiss this kind of casual relationship will find that there are depths, hurts, opportunities to cope, opportunities to change.

1.The impact of the film? As a portrait of thirtysomethings? In San Francisco?

2.The structure of the film: Nina and her going to confession, Kevin in his group, Kate and her therapist? The flashbacks, the filling out of the stories? The schematic nature of the interactions of the main characters?

3.The character of the city, San Francisco and its beauty, considered small, everybody knowing one another? The visuals of San Francisco? The score?

4.Thirtysomethings, their moral framework, their backgrounds, their coping with difficulties in relating, in break-ups, in betrayals, in fidelity? The lesbian affair? The presentation of these issues in a more serious way – even though the characters take on the lighter touch?

5.Kevin, his work at Little City, his friendship with Adam, betraying him in the relationship with Nina? Welcoming Rebecca to the bar, persuading the boss? Adam finding out the truth and his aggression? Nina feeling bad, wanting to break off, the scene in the church? The jogging? His change of attitudes? His taking on some sense of responsibility? The effect of the group? Nina’s pregnancy, willing to take on fatherhood, proposing to her? Marrying her?

6.Nina, in relationship with Adam, the affair with Kevin? Her feeling bad, going home to Adam? His finding out the truth from her, her bluntness, wanting him to blame her? Her going to Little City to see Rebecca? Her pregnancy, the jogging, meeting Kevin, telling him the truth? Adam’s discovery, wanting to help? Adam confronting Nina and finding that Kevin had proposed? Her sitting down with Adam, talking about the future, the friendship?

7.Adam, his artwork, driving the taxi? His love for Kate, her breaking up with him, lesbian relationship? His being hurt? In relationship with Nina, the infidelity, the break-up, his anger with Kevin? Meeting Rebecca, driving the taxi, their talking, friendship, confiding in each other? The relationship, Kate ringing him, his going to her, Rebecca being hurt, putting on a brave face? His shock about Nina’s pregnancy, wanting to take responsibility? With Kate, her break-up for the second time, his being hurt? Meeting Rebecca, laying the foundation for a more solid relationship?

8.Rebecca, coming to the city, looking for a job, Kevin getting it for her? Meeting Anne, going home with her, her embarrassment, Kate coming in? The relationship with Adam? In the taxi, the talk, with him? His going to Kate, her being hurt? Getting over it? Getting strength, a poor image of herself, no talent as an artist, her resentment of her body, her lack of self esteem? Beginning again?

9.Kate, the break-up of the relationship with Adam, her being with Anne, discovering Anne with Rebecca? Her ringing Adam, wanting to get back together, her manipulation, breaking again? Her going to the therapist? Relationships, getting a dog?

10.Anne, lecturer, the art, older, hitting on Rebecca, together, Kate discovering them? Later at the library, with Maria, Kate’s resentment?

11.A portrait of people – credible or not? Superficial and depths? The quandaries in relationships of contemporary young people?