FIRSTBORN
US, 1984, 103 minutes, Colour.
Peter Weller, Teri Garr, Christopher Collett, Corey Haim, Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert Downey Jr.
Directed by Michael Apted.
Firstborn is a film about families and about family violence. Teri Garr is the divorced mother of two sons who starts to date a mysterious young man, played by Peter Weller (Robocop, Buckaroo Banzai). The two sons are not sympathetic -and later their suspicions are confirmed. The mother begins to neglect the sons, the possible stepfather is violent towards them, especially when the older son discovers that he is involved in drugs. There is also background of the boys at school and their relationships with their peers.
The film is a slice of life, American life. While not especially memorable, it is an interesting look at an American family and the dangers of inviting someone in from the outside.
The film was directed by Michael Apted, English director with a range of credits which include Coalminer's Daughter, Gorillas in the Mist, 28 Up. (It is interesting to note that two of the supporting cast were top stars within a few years: Robert Downey Jnr in a small role at one of the class students, Corey Hyam as the youngest son))
1. Family drama? Relationships? Violence?
2. A piece of Americana, the American city, homes, school? Ordinary sequences that audiences could identify with? Challenge? Musical score and atmosphere?
3. The title, the focus on Jacob, the focus on family and family responsibility, the son and his reaction to his mother, to his brother, to the intruder? The challenge for growth for Jacob as he took his responsibilities as firstborn?
4. The family picture: Wendy and her coping, the separation from her husband, his visit and the announcement of his intended marriage? Taking out the boys? The two boys at home, relating to each other, relating to their mother, at school? The arrival of Sam and their first accepting it, the beginnings of resentment? The disruption of the family, Wendy's neglect, problems at school, violence? Clashes with Sam? Dangerous repercussions?
5. Sam and his arrival, genial enough? His relationship with Wendy, going out? His wanting him to stay? The reactions of the sons? His stories about himself, financial investment, going out to restaurants? His lounging around the house and Jacob discovering him? The discovery of the drugs? The strangers arriving, wanting him? His mother's infatuation, not wanting to hear anything against him? His violence towards the boys and her reaction? The build-up to the confrontation, Jacob taking the drugs, Sam discovering this, violent towards Wendy? The long pursuit of Jacob in the car with him on the bike? The danger? The fight? The return home, the three turning on Sam, bashing him, ousting him?
6. Wendy as the ordinary woman, her relationship with her ex-husband, wanting companionship, infatuated by Sam, dressing up, going out? Her love for her sons and pride in them? Neglecting them, wanting her own life? Asking them not to be selfish? Not noticing what was going on? Worried about the bad reports from school? The final confrontation, the build-up and her turning against Sam? The final violence and her getting her sons back?
7. The picture of Jake and Brian: their age, experience, the parents' separation? Their style of life, range of friends at school, the boys, girls? Excursions? The life at home, out with their father? The coming of Sam, the resentment? Not understanding it? Jake and his suspicions, talking to Sam, Sam's threats? The discovery of the drugs? His decision to take them? His antipathy towards Sam's friends? Trying to cope with Brian's outburst at school? Brian and his anger? The two boys and their resentment? Trying to confront their mother? Jake and the pursuit by Sam, his ingenuity with the bike? The final violence? The effect of this experience on them?
8. The school sequences, friendships, boys and girls, expeditions? The violence at school, the resentments, the response of the students?
9. Melodrama - but melodrama dramatising the family violence so prevalent?