THE SEARCH FOR GRACE

US, 1994, 89 minutes, Colour.
Lisa Harman Black, Ken Wahl, Don Michael Paul, Richard Masur.
Directed by Sam Pilsbury.

The Search for Grace is an entertaining telemovie with a touch of the ghost story and implications of reincarnation. It is a star vehicle for Lisa Hartman Black. It is also a star vehicle for Ken Wahl as an American cad.

The film was directed by Sam Pilsbury, a New Zealand director who made such films as Scarecrow and Starlight Hotel in New Zealand. His career in America has been less successful with a number of telemovies and films like Zandalee.

The film is in the glossy telemovie vein - although it re creates the 1920s with effect, especially in the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

1. Entertaining telemovie? Ghost story? Reincarnation? Murder mystery?

2. The opening and the credits, the murder and the mystery at Niagara Falls? The Lindberg flight and the setting of the '20s? The sepia photography? The flashbacks to the '20s and their atmosphere? The contrast with the '90s and colourful American gloss? The intercutting of the two periods? Musical score?

3. The title and the focus on Grace, the discovery of her as the character murdered in the '20s? Ivy and her experiences, identification? Hypnosis? The solution of the mystery?

4. The film and its focus on paranormal experience, Ivy and her collapses, the memories and dreams, hypnosis? The repeating of past events?

5. Ivy, her relationship with Dave, the boat, the proposal, her hesitation? The strange disturbances, the memories, the collapses? Her discussions with her friend and support of the friend? The chance encounter with Johnny, showing him the way, becoming infatuated? Her leaving Dave and his being hurt? Johnny and his wild life, his being a celebrity, lavish style? His lack of truth and her being hurt? Discussing issues with her friend? The possibility of marrying Johnny, meeting his family, wealth and position?

6. Her collapses, her dreams? The bewilderment, the danger? Her going to the psychiatrist, his taping her hypnotic records? The gradual emergence of the truth? Her going to Buffalo, doing her own detective work? The discovery of Grace and her story? The irony of Grace, the same actor portraying Dave and her husband? The same actor being Johnny and the villain in the '20s?

7. The character of Grace, happily married, children? The infatuation with Johnny, leaving home, the high life, the prohibition dives? The scene at the gas station, the clash, the attempted murder, Grace's death?

8. The parallels with Grace, Johnny and his being revealed as a fraud, his pursuit of Ivy, the attempt to kill her, the bridge, Dave and the rescue, their all being in the water, Johnny's death, Ivy rescuing Dave, love and reconciliation?

9. The character of Johnny, playboy, charm, moods? The revelation of the truth, the gambler, robbing Ivy? Pursuing her and his violence? The parallel with the character in the '20s?

10. Dave, love for Ivy, being rejected, going to Buffalo, rescuing her?

11. Ivy's friend and her constant support?

12. The psychiatrist and his interest in the case, hypnosis, skills in helping Ivy?

13. The popularity of this kind of ghost story and exploration of the paranormal?