THE RETURN OF THE SECAUCUS SEVEN

US, 1980, 109 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Mc Donald, Adam Le Fevre, Karen Trott, Gordon Clapp, David Strathairn.
Directed by John Sayles.

The Return of the Secaucus Seven was one of Time Magazine's ten best of 1980. While it would be spot-on for U.S. audiences, it has universal appeal because it is so well written, directed and edited (all by John Sayles - writer of Piranha, Alligator, Howling, though this film is worlds away from Horror). Portraying a weekend reunion of seven turning-30s who recall their turbulent 20s and feel some need to settle and shape their lives, the film (frequently very funny) sounds very real, shows warmly details, situations with which we are so familiar that not only do we respond to the characters, we can pleasingly learn a lot about and from them - strengths, mistakes, goodness, malice, melancholy.

1. The film's reputation in America? Time Magazine's acclaim? Interest and entertainment for non-American audiences?

2. The work of John Sayles? Writing, editing, acting, directing? His Hollywood career - and writing horror films? His age, the experience about which he writes, first-hand knowledge and insight, his ear for language and talk, his eye for detail? Middle American interests and values? The upheaval of the '60s, the protest of the '70s, the settling down of the late 1970s?

3. The style of the film as a home movie? A blending of personal techniques with commercial skill? The authentic atmosphere of the location photography? Audiences getting to know Mike and Kate's home? Other interiors? The town itself, streets, shops, theatre, countryside? The authenticity of the characters - appearance, manners, talking and acting, reacting? The quality of the editing for pace, humour?

4. The significance of the title, its parody of protest groups of the late '60s? The explanation as applying to the group? Highlighting the adolescence of the '60s? The young adulthood of the '70s? The nature of protest - motives, causes, behaviour? The humour about Secaucus? The group reaching 30, taking stock of itself? The individuals and the reflection on their 20s, the prospect of 30 and 35? An optimistic and settled viewpoint? The experience of upheaval? The experience of happiness, success? The need for survival, ambition? The melancholy and nostalgia? The presentation of the age group of American society? Its contrast with previous generations? Its influence on the next generation?

5. The style of the film: the introduction of each of the characters, seeing them in ordinary situations, hearing them talk? Appreciating them, strengths and weaknesses? The vivid detail of their interaction? Shared experiences? The domestic style, talk? The predictability and non-predictability? The topics of conversation, manner, ease with one another? Funny and sad?

6. The framework of the weekend reunion? Mike and Kate and their discussing and planning, the details of preparation? The build-up to the various individuals on the way? The meetings, initial interaction, sense of fun and talk? The variety of moods, changes in relationships, sadness? The reinforcing of some relationships? The prospects for the coming year - standards of normality? A pleasing group?

7. The important details of house preparation by Mike and Kate? J.T. and his encounter with the garage attendant? His wanting a lift? His meeting Frances? Irene and Chip and Chip's awkwardness, anxiety about meeting the group? Irene bolstering him? Maura and her walking out on Jeff? The allotting of rooms? The build-up to Jet’s birthday and the birthday cake? Going to the play and the criticisms of the actress? The emphasis on sex and Kate's curiosity? Her misjudging Frances and Maura? The contrast of the two breakfasts presented? Jeff and his arrival and J.T's telling the truth? The long sequence and collage of the basketball-playing and the atmosphere irking the men? The walks, the swimming, the posing and diving? The showing off? The encounter with Howard and his wife and the kids? Memories of schooldays? The outing at night, singing and dancing, J.T's singing, drugs and the discussion about drugs? The encounter with the deer and the irony of their being arrested? The aftermath and their leaving? Ordinary goodbyes? Jeff and his chopping the wood and leaving the note? J.T. and the offers of money and his hopes for Los Angeles? The attention to the detail of each incident giving a flavour for the film and its cumulative effect? e.g. the sports sequences, the swimming, the night out, the jail sequence?

8. The variety of moods, emotions, past relationships and shifting relationships, love and friendship, jealousy, bitchiness, shyness and fear? Age and change?

9. Michael and Kate and their talk, the house, gossip, the background of their teaching and Mike's mock class to the group with J.T. acting up? Kate and her going to the play, criticisms, watching the night arrangements? Their interaction, humour? Their farewell to the group and assessment of how the weekend had gone? The audience seeing things through their eyes?

10. J.T. and his singing, hitch-hiking, relationships with the girls, capacity for joking, his dropping out? The relationship with Irene and the memories, being picked up by Frances? The night with Maura and Frances' reaction? His telling Jeff? His songs, enjoyment of the day? Irene and the offer of money? Maura and the offer of companionship? His setting out for Los Angeles - to what future?

11. Irene and Chip - the humour of the changing of the tyre, Chip's awkwardness in meeting the group and feeling out of it, being victimised at the basketball? Enjoying his bacon and eggs for breakfast? His reaction to the play? The swimming, talking with Jeff? The killing of the deer? The relationship with Irene and passing the test with the group? Their background of work for the senator, plenty of money and success?

12. Frances and her work as a doctor, her joy in talking about being present at the birth? The attraction towards Ron and hearing him on the snowmobiles? Spending the night with him? The group joking and singing the song from The Pyjama Game?

13. Maura and her being upset, arrival, explanation about coming without Jeff, the play, the night with J.T.? Jeff's arrival and his knowledge of the truth? Their anger with each other? Jeff and his self-centredness, friendship with J.T., his talk with the various men in the group especially of the swim? The drugs? Reaction to the arrest? His chopping the wood and his inability to say goodbye?

14. Ron and his work in the town at the garage? Howard and his wife and the children?

15. The incidental characters - the police, the drunken referee and the humorous talk in the jail?

16. The achievement of the film in presenting a cross-section of a group, showing them as they were, highlighting memory, growing up, changes in responsibilities? The background of educated middle America settling down to adulthood? The blend of humour, observation, wisdom?