WEEKEND WITH KATE

Australia, 1990, 92 minutes, Colour.
Colin Friels, Catherine Mc Clements, Jerome Ehlers.
Directed by Arch Nicholson.

Weekend With Kate is a slight, battle of the sexes Australian comedy. Colin Friels is a strong actor - but not necessarily in such light comic roles. However, Catherine Mc Clements won the AFI Best Actress award for 1990 for her role. They were later to team very successfully for television on Water Rats. Jerome Ehlers is the smug rock star.

The film is about a fawning ad-man who tries to do everything for a self-centred rock star. His wife, Kate, had hoped that the weekend would be for her husband and herself and is looking forward to having a child. But, her husband is having an affair with a dominant woman in the office.

The film has a mixture of farce, comedy, romance and moments of truth. It was the last film directed by Arch Nicholson, director of Buddies, A Good Thing Going.

For several years Colin Friels and Catherine Mc Clements co-starred in the popular Sydney Harbour set, Water Rats.

1.The blend of the comic and the serious?

2.Sydney locations, Palm Beach? The city, offices contrasting with the beach and the water? Musical score?

3.The title, indication of themes?

4.The portrait of Richard: at work, his affair with Carla, the music world, planning to tell Kate the truth, fawning on the singer, going home, going along with Kate's plan, cowardly? Going for the weekend, settling in, the domestic comic touches? Doing everything for the singer, obeying his whims? The meals and the singer not eating? Going fishing, the boat, the crash? The weekend as a disaster? Relationship with Kate, the music, not suspicious? Carla's arrival, the farce and the deceptions, the singer leaving, facing the truth, pursuing Kate, the notices on the road? Learning - and reconciliation?

5.Kate and her marriage, wanting to be pregnant, her plan? Not knowing of the affair? The weekend and the thwarting of the plans, going, the domestic comedy, the music clash with the singer, cooking the food, his stances? The phones? Sharing with the singer, going out, the swim, the sexual encounter, the aftermath? Carla's arrival, the truth, being hurt? The return home, Richard's notices? The reconciliation?

6.Jon Thorne and his reputation, performance, the world of the rock star, his arrival, rudeness, Richard fawning on him? The trip to the house, his comments, friendliness with Kate? Fads with food? The argument about music? His behaviour, going fishing, the crash? With Kate, on the beach, the sexual encounter? The aftermath, his affirming Kate? Carla and her arrival, promotion? Going?

7.Carla, the relationship with Richard, her plans, manoeuvring Richard, the phone calls, the arrival, her carrying on, the truth revealed, the break-up?

8.The glimpse of the rock world, musical performances, commerce and records, concerts? The reputation of the stars, the fawning on them, their whims?

9.The world of advertising and PR? Losing self?

10.The contrast with the ordinary world of Kate, her hopes? The meeting of the two worlds? Clashes and reconciliation?