THIRD PERSON PLURAL
Australia, 1979, 90 minutes, Colour.
Bryan Brown, Linden Wilkinson, George Sheutsou, Margaret Cameron.
Drected by James Ricketson.
Third Person Plural is a feature film by James Ricketson. Ricketson studied in the '70s at the Australian Film and Television School as well as the University of New South Wales. He made documentaries for television and also worked as a trainee nurse at a psychiatric hospital. One of his earlier shorts showed this in the breakdown of a film director's marriage, Reflections. He made an effective short feature called Drifting, about a young artist selling paintings, and a university student. The film explores relationships and is further complicated by a character from the Sydney drug scene.
This feature is a very verbal film - the characters engage in (seemingly at times interminable) conversations. The film relies on the audience paying full attention and wanting to be interested in the characters. This is a bit presumptuous as the characters are very ordinary in their way - not all that interesting. However, as a way of exploring the inner life of the characters and the effect on their relationships with one another, Third Person Plural is an entertaining enough avant-garde exploration. The frequently present Bryan Brown is the star. Fringe Australian drama.
1. An interesting film, entertaining? For what audience was it made? Filmmakers, the wide audience? Many critics condemned it as boring. How true is this?
2. The film was made with help from a creative and experimental fund. The value of this kind of fund and the quality of the product? Audience interest in experimental film, improvised acting? Documentary style, emphasis on techniques and patterns of realism? Effects of editing?
3. An Australian production, Australian atmosphere and themes? Locations - exteriors and the water, the boat? Interiors, the homes? Lighting? Atmosphere?
4. The significance of the title and its indication of themes? The four central people as 'they'? Their interrelationship as I-You?, We?
5. The film opening with Naomi and her comments, zest for life, statements about life's meaning, her own experience, life's purpose? Her indicating themes? The close-up of the ants? Her role as catalyst - presumably in Danny's film, as a character in herself, her relationship to the two girls and talking with them, with the whole group? The personal touch, her communication with the audience?
6. Themes of zest, meaning for life? The four variations on these themes with the main characters? Their comment on the attitudes and behaviour of one another? A means of insight by these comparisons? By looking at the two pairs and the comparisons of the pairs?
7. The plot and the presentation of the trip - the flashbacks to the preparations for it, the group meting one another, introductions? The trip itself and the small events, swims, excursions, the champagne-drinking? The emphasis on the aftermath of the trip and what the trip had led to? The repercussions? The linear development of the plot and the way it was interspersed with flashbacks, imagination, flash forwards?
8. The pairing of Mark and Danny? Mark's shyness, a man of imagination yet inhibited? A theoretician, a scientist, the great detail of information about ants, the laboratory sequences? His authenticity in his work and Danny's comment on this? The inhibited side of his character and his moving out, trying to be forward? Commenting on Danny's work and criticising her film? How well presented was Danny as a character, an attractive woman, her interest in Mark and relating to him, discussions, questions and answers? Her reaction to his proposal, criticism of her film? A future together?
9. The importance of absolutes and relativism? Theoretical and the way these were illustrated in their discussions? In their relationship? The lengthy and repetitive discussions about meaning, anxiety? The locations for these discussions - in fact, imagination? Their compatibility, complementarity?
10. Beth and Terry as a couple? The sensuous aspects of their relationship in comparison with the intellectual discussions of Danny and Mark? Thews of freedom, lack of inhibition, Beth's nude swimming, Terry and his free moral attitudes? Their discussions about relationships, love, sexuality? The consequences and responsibilities? The effects on Beth and her giving in to her love for Terry yet her love for Toby? Her decisions, the lack of help from Terry? His working on his boat, casual attitudes. being agreeable, his not wanting to see her all the time? The decision to part? His visiting her later and planning to go off on a trip? Genial, how shallow? The theme of absolutes and relativism and their relationship?
11. The character portrait of Toby and his being seen with his wife - love, in the park, staying home working, the contrast with Terry and Beth. Joachim and his place in Beth's life? The separation? The ability to cope separated? Beth's dream of the farm and her plans and study for it?
12. Separations and reunion? The parallels of the two couples? The enigma of Beth torn between the two men and loving them both? Naomi's presence and catalyst for these relationships?
13. The effect an the audience of the improvisation, the establishing of roles, the quality of the dialogue, the delineation of the characters, the presentation of issues? Helped by the editing? A film of questions and/or answers?
