LEAVING NORMAL
US, 1992, 110 minutes, Colour.
Christine Lahti, Meg Tilley, Lenny van Dolen, James Gammon, Maury Chaykin.
Directed by Edward Zwick.
Leaving Normal is a fine film. It was directed by Edward Zwick, the creator of the television series thirty-something and director of a wide range of films including About Last Night, Courage Under Fire, The Last Samurai.
Normal is a town in Wyoming. A young woman finds herself there in an unhappy marriage, walks out and is comforted by a waitress who is leaving a club on her way to claim a house in Alaska. They talk, the older woman befriending the younger, they travel together from Wyoming to Alaska, by car, caravan and by hitchhiking. They pass through beautiful scenery, especially of the Rockies as well as Alaskan mountains in their journey. The Aurora Borealis is seen.
Meg Tilly portrays the young woman, almost childlike, the victim of her choices, most of which have been bad choices. Christine Lahti is excellent as Darley, a hard-boiled waitress, whose ex-husband has died and has left his house to her. She decides to make for Alaska and takes the young woman with her.
The two actresses work particularly well together, creating their characters as well as the strong interaction between them. At one stage that joined by Patrika Darbo as 66, a well-rounded young woman who is generally looked down on by people but works at self-esteem. And she has a fairy tale ending for her quest.
The film was released in the same time as Thelma and Louise and commentators point out that it suffered in comparison. It is not dramatic like Thelma and Louise, but does show women as friends, companions, sharing experiences. It still stands up very well.
1. The impact of this film about women? Women in themselves, friendship and bonding? Experiences, shared experiences?
2. The 1990s, interest in women’s films, the impact at this time of Thelma and Louise?
3. The American west, North West, the variety of states, the towns, the Rocky Mountain scenery, Alaska? The musical score?
4. The title, the ironies of the town of Normal and the two women leaving lives which were considered normal?
5. The introduction to Maryanne, she and her sister, the abuse of father, the mother taking them away? The effect on the children? Emily and her being normal? Maryanne and her problem life?
6. The adult Maryanne on the bus, talking with everyone, the collage of people listening, their responses, the background of her life, the choices that she made, considering the bad choices, the two marriages, in the army? With her second husband, cooking, the arguments, his brutally hitting her, apologies, her going for a walk in the town, sitting on the bench, encountering Darley, talking with her, deciding to leave with her? Her later requesting the ring from her husband, and his sending it?
7. Darley, her age, experience, strong character, tough manner, hard shell, disappointments in life, her bitterness, pessimism, especially about trust and human relationships? Her work as a waitress, the reactions, decision to leave, the prospect of her hopes in Alaska? Meeting Maryanne, sitting, talking, the decision to go together, the destination, trusting in fate, choices and the selection of a cigarette? Yet the causality, Maryanne and her talking, issues of fate, Maryanne tracing the links? Her choices and fear of choices?
8. Darley and her enjoying the trip, Maryanne’s company, despite her incessant chatter, propensity for apologizing? Her being helped by Maryanne?
9. The motels, stay overs, talking, Maryanne weeping? The car, Maryanne offering to pay? The breakdown, getting lifts, the car being robbed and wrecked? Hitchhiking?
10. The lifts, on the back of trucks, the egg and the chooks, in the car with the mother and daughter, the joke about producing the egg?
11. The visit to Maryanne’s sister, the husband getting the job, possibility of staying, her room and the space décor? Sneaking away?
12. The two men in the truck, friendly, the meal at the restaurant, Harry and reading The Grapes of wrath, weeping? The driver and the temptation to be unfaithful? Giving Darley the money? The women escaping out the toilet window?
13. The town, the diner, 66 and her work at the diner, her appearance, issues of weight, her self- esteem, quoting books, vocabulary, belief in herself? Anger, fired? The women hiding in her car, 66 leaving with them, the caravan? Stopping in the town, the meal, the dance, the man approaching 66, dancing, his courtesy, his wealth, fiancée, happy ending?
14. Arriving in Alaska, the caravan, their arrival, the boys squatting, only the framework of the house, Darley’s anger?
15. The town, small, the shops in the street, the hardware store, Maryanne and the interview, having no talents, but getting the job? Using the cash for the garden and improvements of the house?
16. Darley, job as a waitress, the man accosting her, her being fired? Her going with the man, to his home, $500? Her emotions, hearing about her ex-husband and his daughter, thinking it was her daughter? A younger girl? Giving the money back, leaving?
17. The visit to the hospital, the inquiry about adoption, the harsh attitude of the woman at the desk? Darley’s return, the woman relenting and offering to send the form?
18. Darley, weeping, exasperated, coming to the end of her tether, the return?
19. Harry, the letter, poem, Maryanne writing back, Darley and the posting of the letter or not? His turning up, Maryanne’s joy? Not wanting to go with him
but looking forward to his return? A genuine man, the truck, his work, love for Maryanne?
20. The boys, building the house, Mary and teaching the boy to read?
21. Darley’s return, the building of the house, the meal, grace before meals, united as a family?
