WINDY CITY

US,1984, 103 minutes, Colour.
Kate Capshaw, John Shea, Josh Mostel.
Directed by Armyan Bernstein.

Windy City is a Chicago story, a focus on a would-be author and his memories of his childhood with a group of friends called the Rogues, as well as their subsequent life, their failures in fulfilling their ambitions. Slow-moving, focusing on character rather than action, the film creates its mood and develops the central character rather than the friends.

He is played by John Shea (Missing, Stealing Home) and he is matched with Kate Capshaw (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom). However, Josh Mostel plays an interesting character, a friend dying of cancer. The film is episodic, stays with its mood, seems pessimistic in general - but then opts for happy ending.

1.A film of growing up? Characters? Memories and ambitions? Achievement and failure?

2.The title of the film, the Chicago settings, the use of the city locations, the lake? Musical score?

3.Themes of youth, ambitions and hopes, achievement, careers? Life and death? Love and marriage?

4.The film from Danny's perspective: as a writer, as a man, as a friend? The development of his character? His hopes for writing? His work as a mailman? The encounter with Emily, the affair with her, in love with her, the separation? His close friendship with Sol? Sol's illness, his visits to the hospital, concern about him? The range of friends and his encounters with them? The day out with Sol and their gathering together, sport, dancing, football? The hope for getting the boat? Going round to them, their excuses - finally getting the boat, Sol's death? His love for Emily, looking at her wedding, his regrets? Publishing his novel, wondering about meeting Emily, the final encounter, the happy ending?

5.The Rogues as young boys, watching Errol Flynn on the television? Their ambitions? What actually happened to them? Settling down to ordinary life? Television and covering restaurants, family life, business deals and threats of failure? Their meetings, playing football, the day out with Sol, the episode on the boat? Going their own ways? The friend who lived in California and kept ringing Danny?

6.Sol, his friendship, illness, wondering why it was happening to him, his advice for Danny? The hospital sequences, the day out and his enjoyment? The boat? The pathos of his death?

7.The final view of the group, their different paths in life?

8.Emily, her meeting Danny, the relationship and the affair, talking together, good company? The break? Her marrying, the Halloween party with Danny? The marriage ceremony? Her divorce?

9.Themes of hopes and regrets, achievement and failure? Happy endings?