HOSTAGE
US, 1988, 90 minutes, Colour.
Carol Burnett, Carrie Hamilton.
Directed by Peter Levin.
Hostage is an efficient telemovie, made in Canada with Canadian director Peter Levin. It is a star vehicle for Carol Burnett and her real-life daughter, Carrie Hamilton.
The film focuses on a prison escape, the young ex-prisoner taking Carol Burnett hostage, the violence, the relationship between the two women, the emergence of the truth, the involvement of Carol Burnett's character in trying to help the escapee. There is a background of family violence, incest - leading to the imprisonment of the young girl. There are some quite brutal scenes towards the end.
However, on a popular level, the film asks audiences to try to understand the characters before judging them.
1.Interesting and enjoyable telemovie, thriller, social comment?
2.The background of the prison, the affluent world of Martha, the road, New York, Bonnie's home and poverty? Musical score?
3.The prison sequences, Bonnie in jail, the gun, the bus? The crash, taking the car, at the service station? Her taking Martha hostage in the supermarket parking lot? The setting of the scene?
4.The portrait of Bonnie: in prison, the escape, the visit of her father and his threats, the bus, stealing the car from the couple, confronting the service station man, her acting in the supermarket, taking Martha, the drive and the almost crash, the bank and no money, at home, fighting with Martha, talking about ordinary things, her not understanding Martha's estrangement from her daughter? Dressing up, going to the bank, the comic meeting with the woman in the bank? The decision to go to New York? In New York, the bond between the two women, the meal? Her father's arrival, the violence? Martha's leaving? With her father, his trying to persuade her to go with him? The memories of the past, her explanation of the incestuous relationship? Her love for her mother, writing her letters, her mother's not replying? Persuaded to ring Martha? Getting her to come, the father robbing her? The suggestion of sexual violence? Bonnie's attack, shooting her father? Going to see her mother, talking with her, the mystery of her neglect? Realising that her mother knew what was going on? The father's arrival, his violence, his death? The police coming, Martha coming, the reconciliation and help?
5.Martha and the death of her husband, lack of emotional expression, love for her daughter but clashes with her? Alone, at the supermarket, her response to Bonnie, the reckless driving, fighting, the violence in the home, talking things over? Making her reflect on her relationship with her daughter, possessions but her daughter in California? The bank, her improvising at the bank? New York, the hotel, improvising about Bonnie's behaviour in the parking lot? The meal, the running away from Bonnie's father? The phone call, her going, the humiliation, the robbery, the father's behaviour and her appealing to Bonnie? Going to the police, wanting to mediate, the reconciliation? Her future help?
6.The father, his visit to the prison, his threats, listening to the police radio, turning up? The story of his behaviour, incestuous relationship? Callousness, pursuit to New York, the streets, finding them in the restaurant, his violence, his plans for going to Alaska with Bonnie, getting Martha to come, robbing her? The violence, the pursuit in the car? His finally being stabbed?
7.The mother, her helplessness, explaining that she wanted to abort her daughter? Her love for her daughter, inability to help? Finally killing her husband? Looking on helpless at Martha and Bonnie?
8.Jill, her relationship with her mother? The law, going to California? Wanting her mother to express affection? The parallels between Jill and Bonnie?
9.The couple whose car was stolen, the service station attendant, the police, the hotel officials?
10.An efficient thriller? Pace and action? The domestic violence theme? Estrangement between parents and children? Possibilities of reconciliation? Of shaping one's life?
