BED OF ROSES
US, 1996, 87 minutes, Colour.
Christian Slater, Mary Stuart Masterson, Pamela Segall.
Directed by Michael Goldenberg.
Bed of Roses initially had a Valentine's Day release indicating how the distributors saw this romantic story. It is a modern love story: the young woman without any experience of family gives herself completely to her work and success; the widower opts out of a Wall St firm to cultivate flowers.
The movie was described as 'women's magazine' material but works better than might be expected from this put-down description. Mary Stuart Masterson's showing her tentative love and apprehension at meeting Lewis's loving family elicits from the audience understanding of and sympathy for her fears and dilemmas. Christian Slater brings warmth and gentleness to his portrait of a grieving man rediscovering love.
There are references to love stories, to fairy tales and to Prince Charming. Lisa's best friend, Kim, puts on a play where a talented but frightened little girl enacts Sleeping Beauty as Lisa watches, becoming aware of the parallel to herself.
The dialogue talks of perfect roses. It also refers to the need for thorns to make a realistic world. This is a pretty and entertaining movie.
1. The appeal of this romantic story (a Valentine’s Day release in the US in 1996)? Just simply a love story – or more cogent issues and depth?
2. The New York settings, Lisa at home in the city? Louis not at home in the city, transforming it with flowers and with his roof garden? The countryside with Pennsylvania and Louis’s family? The importance of locations? The romantic musical score?
3. The title, the focus on flowers, favourite flowers, roses? The grey satin roses as Lisa’s favourite? Louis and his gifts of flowers, the arrangements, the abundance of roses in her room, at his shop?
4. The romantic aspects of the film – and the echoes of fairy tales with Prince Charming, the play and the waking of Sleeping Beauty? Kim and her realistic comments, Lisa as being realistic but in her own frightened fantasy? Fear of Prince Charming?
5. The opening, the focus on Lisa at work, her promotion, her interview with the businessman? Her success? Being sent off for a holiday before an important job? Intercut with Louis and his arranging of the flowers? The introduction to two lonely people? The information about her stepfather’s death and her negative reaction?
6. Lisa not knowing her birth date, the death of her stepfather and the phone call, the dreams and her memories of his sternness, drinking? Her not going to his grave? Finally telling Louis the story of her life, being a foundling? Her going to Stanley’s grave and this as part of her exorcism of the past?
7. The flowers, her reaction, going to the shop, going to the storytelling class, the encounter with Louis, his not revealing the truth to her? Her being bothered by it? Her ringing Daniel and his saying it would never have occurred to him? Her going again to Louis at breakfast, his confession, her being wary?
8. Her spending the day with him, her guilt at not having achieved anything, the collage of the delivery of the flowers and people’s delight? The kiss but her fear? Their meetings, talk, confidence in each other? Her moving in, their living together? The effect on her? The effect on him – especially with his caution about his first marriage, his commitment to his wife, her death in childbirth? His discussions with his sister?
9. The development of the relationship? Lisa and her discussions with Kim, Kim anchoring in her reality while being in admiration of the dream? The contrast with Daniel, her relationship with him, his watching television, eating? Her breaking off the relationship?
10. The invitation by Louis to meet his family, her reluctance, pretending to be busy? Her being by herself, her decision to go? The wide family, the backgrounds, the welcome, the eating and the celebration? Louis’s proposal and her fear? Embarrassed with the proposal in front of everyone, her running away?
11. Louis’s grief, his not pursuing her? Her being by herself, the months passing, her going to talk with Kim? Her being persuaded to go to Louis’s room, her apology, suggesting that he tell her to wait, his final request? A future of commitment for them?
12. The incidental detail, the focus on flowers and happiness, the walks around the city, Kim’s play and Louis and Lisa being present, the effect of Sleeping Beauty awakening and Lisa staying in the hall?
13. A light film – but an exploration of love, relationship, sexuality, commitment?
