WIND

US, 1992, 125 minutes, Colour.
Matthew Modine, Jennifer Grey, Cliff Robertson, Jack Thompson, Stellan Skarsgaard.
Directed by Carroll Ballard.

Wind was directed by Carroll Ballard, director of the Black Stallion and Never Cry Wolf. It was filmed on location at Newport Rhode Island, in Hawaii, Utah, and in Fremantle in Western Australia. It is the story of the America's Cup.

As a piece of patriotic Americana, the film is designed for an American audience. Australian audiences might prefer for it to end in the middle, after they beat America in 1983.

The film focuses on the American yachting aristocracy, their disbelief in losing the Cup, the Australian victory and exuberance, the rematch and the determination of the Group to win back the Cup.

The film would be highly enjoyable for those who like yachting and racing - but for those for whom yachting is not a popular spectator sport, the film could be tedious. The design and photography are quite striking. The human story, however, is rather of the common place - the young man, defeat, rejection, enterprise, re-building a ship, victory. The film takes a stand for women's rights in having Jennifer Grey participate in the final victory. Star is Matthew Modine (Birdy, Full Metal Jacket, Married to the Mob).

1.Yachting, the background of the America's Cup, the American defeat, the Australian victory, the Americans winning back the Cup? The human story as background?

2.The range of locations, Newport Rhode Island, Hawaii, Fremantle? Utah standing in for Nevada? The musical score and rousing spirit?

3.The yachting sequences, the photographic style, action, editing? The perspectives on the Race, on the work of
the crews, competitiveness?

4.Will Parker, the opening and the underwater shots? The offer by Weld to sail for him? The discussions with Kate, their background, shared experiences? His going to work for Weld, Newport Rhode Island? Weld giving him the commission to be his opponent? The preparations for the America's Cup? The relationship with the Australians? Kate and her being part of the crew, Weld ordering her out? Her anger, departure? His staying? The experience of the Cup, the loss? The break-up with Kate? His following her to Nevada, her relationship with Joe? The discussions with Joe, testing of experiments in the river, in the tank? His going to Abigail Weld, the interview with her father, his desperation and calling Will a loser? The group working in Nevada, going to Fremantle, the Races? Charlie and his judgment and the crash with the Australian boat? The Press Conference, Will conceding the point to the Australians? The final race, ingenuity, work? Kate on the boat? The new sail? Outmanoeuvring the Australians, winning? The achievement, re-united with Kate?

5.Kate, her engineering skills, working with Will? Insisting that he take the job? Going to Newport, on the boat? Her being ousted? Her anger? The coin and the tossing of head or tail - and each wanting their own life? Their going to work in Nevada, the relationship with Joe? Will's arrival, her tension? Abigail? The building of the boat, her going to Western Australia? On the final race, her tactics, the sail? The reconciliation?

6.Morgan Weld, the aristocracy, the male enclave, the wealthy background? The mansions of Newport? The boats? His preparation for the Cup? Talking with Will, the memories of the yachts winning the America's Cup? The interview - and his comments about the loser? The Race, defeat? His becoming a recluse, the abandoned mansion, his servant with the gun, his humiliation of Will? The clashes with Abigail? Going to Western Australia, the money and his power, demanding to steer the ship to victory? His being rejected? Watching on television - and his change of heart?

7.Abigail, wanting to be a ballet dancer, Will watching her doing Madame Butterfly? Her resentment of her father, dislike of Boats? The meeting with Will, the affair? Raising the money, flying to Nevada? Becoming the boss of the syndicate? The preparations? Her clash with her father, her anger with Will at the Press Conference, sacking him? Her going back on her decision? The joy of winning?

8.Joe, his experiments in Nevada, relationship with Kate, his self-absorption? Idealist? Intuitions? In Western Australia, the sale and his claiming it as his invention?

9.Jack Neville, the Australians, good sports, winning in Newport? At home, the crash with Geronimo? The Press Conference, the concession to the Australians? The ramming of the sail during the Race? Defeat?

10.The members of the crews, their work, training, the Races, knowledge and ingenuity of sailing? Charlie and his tactics, the clash with Will?

11.The America's Cup and the American Clubs, tradition? The male stances? The formal manners and regulations?

12.The television commentator, the Australian perspective on the Americans, on the Australians?

13.Popular sport story, a film of sailing? The human background story? American patriotism?