DIGGING TO CHINA

US, 1998, 98 minutes, Colour.
Evan Rachel Wood, Kevin Bacon, Mary Stuart Masterson, Marianne Seldes, Cathy Moriarty.
Directed by Timothy Hutton.

Digging to China is the directorial debut of actor Timothy Hutton. It is the story of a mentally handicapped young man who is on his way to an institution, with his loving mother. Kevin Bacon portrays the young man – an opportunity for him to join the long line of actors who have played mentally impaired characters. Marianne Seldez is his mother.

The film is also the story of a ten-year-old girl with an extraordinary imagination and restlessness. She is played by Evan Rachel Wood in her first film – a rather precocious performance which, however, has been justified by her subsequent career in such films as Thirteen, The Missing, Down in the Valley and The Upside of Anger. Cathy Moriarty is her ailing mother and Mary Stuart Masterson her sister.

The film focuses on the characters of the girl and the young man but also develops the strong theme of friendship between them. The sister, especially, does not understand and fears that the girl will be molested. This theme is developed briefly near the end of the film. However, the film is good-natured, and offers a great sensitivity in the portrait of the lonely young girl who finds a friend and of the young man who knows that he will never grow up.

1. The title? Harriet and her wanting to dig to China? To get away from home, family? Her imagination?

2. The North Carolina setting, the small town, the motel, the surrounding woods? An atmosphere for this kind of story, isolation? Musical score?

3. The focus on Harriet, her voice-over? Age, experience? Her relationship with her mother, her mother’s illness? The revelation that Gwen was actually her mother? Her life at home, by herself, her imagination, stories, digging holes, waiting for the UFO to come? At school, the reaction of the students on the bus, in the classroom, her teacher? At home, driving with her mother, her mother driving on the wrong side of the road? Her antagonism towards Gwen, towards her boyfriend, putting the food in the bed etc? Her lonely way of life – and the change which came with Ricky?

4. Ricky, Kevin Bacon’s performance, an impersonation of a mentally impaired adult? What age mentality? His relationship with his mother, her care for him, taking him to the institution, his understanding it, his mother and her imminent death? Ricky and his first encounter with Harriet, not getting out of the car? The car breaking down?

5. Ricky, his past, a blue baby? His coping with his difficulties? Not speaking much? The meetings with Harriet, the growing friendship, their sharing experiences together? In the woods, the trees? In the motel? Her incessant talking? Bringing him out of himself? His intelligence, his being able to explain himself? Going on the various adventures, especially going to the fair, riding on the merry-go-round etc? The balloons, her attempt to fly in the balloon – and getting stuck in the tree? Their talking together, perfectly at ease with each other?

6. Harriet, her incessant talking, the effect on her mother and sister? The effect on Ricky? The nature of her chatter, her questions? Her having to help with the motel?

7. Her mother, ill, the running of the motel, love for her daughter – and truly revealed after her death? Driving on the wrong side of the road, her comments on Gwen? Her death? The lonely funeral?

8. Gwen, her age, boyfriend, work in the motel, attitude towards Ricky and his mother? Towards Harriet? Antagonisms, watching television, meals? Her mother’s death, coming to the school, telling Harriet the news, Harriet’s grief, hardness, Harriet and her defences? Gwen telling Harriet that she was actually her mother? The impact on Harriet?

9. Harriet and Gwen together, the harshness, Harriet hitting her, Gwen hitting her back? Gwen forbidding her to go near Ricky? Her fears?

10. Harriet, wanting to be Ricky’s wife, the ritual in the river? Her using this information when Ricky went to the hospital? Gwen and her fears about molestation? Harriet not understanding this? Running away, Ricky going with her, the experiences together? His becoming ill, the doctor coming? His being in hospital, Harriet trying to visit him?

11. Leah, her love for her son, caring for him, anxious about his being missing? Her tolerance and understanding for the attitudes of Gwen, for Harriet? Her taking her son away?

12. Ricky, his having to go to the institution, his not wanting to go? His not saying goodbye to Harriet? Harriet and her sadness, Gwen and her apologies and understanding?

13. Ricky’s return, the response to ‘See you later, Alligator’ and his saying ‘In a while, Crocodile’?

14. A portrait of family, limitations, isolation? Loneliness, friendship? The strong and sensitive film about this unlikely friendship?