SLOW DANCING IN THE BIG CITY

US, 1978, 110 Minutes, Colour.
Paul Sorvino, Anne Ditchburn, Nicolas Coster, Anita Dangler.
Directed by John G. Avildsen.

Lou Friedlander (the sensitively amiable Paul Sorvino) writes a newspaper column recounting New York stories of pathos and genial optimism not unlike the soory of this film. Gearing it for wide audience appeal, Lou is middle aged, kind but unfulfilled and meets Sarah (Anne Ditchburn), a self-driven dancer rehearsing a symbolic, contemporary ballet, director John G. Avildsen (Rocky) draws many moments of humour, sentiment and tension from conventional material, enhanced by Sorvino's presence and some well-sketched
supporting characters. It's the kind of material people say they like, portrayed with the growing calmness and more positive treatment of the late 70s so that it is dramatically and romantically satisfying.

1. The meaning and tone of the title, emphases, indication of themes? The big city itself, the symbols of dancing?

2. The film as a film of the big city: audience response to the tone of a big city, the urban environment, the look and feel of cities, the influence of the cities on people? A New York story, an American story, the nature of large American cities and their effect on people, the cross?section of people in the city and their moving together and encountering one another? The encounters as a form of slow dancing and joining together? A satisfying modern city story?

3. The importance of stories? The Eskimo story that Lou told during the credits, the human feeling, empathy, people doing things because moved by compassion for others without rational explanation, saving people's lives because they are in danger? The Eskimo story as a key to understanding the meting of Lou and Sarah? The importance of Lou's column and the human interest in it? Short stories for daily emotional impact for the readers and their brief looking at a column? The story of this film as the equivalent of one of Lou's columns? How was this illustrated by the interview with the man whose home had burnt down, the policeman wanting his name in the column, Mark Olivera and his capacity for drumming, Sarah and her story? How did the short story give a framework and structure for the film itself?

4. How much sympathy and empathy was there in the film? Sentiment, romance? Insight into ordinary human beings in their day to day lives in the big city, their encounters and the important emotional repercussions?

5. The introduction to Lou himself via his story and his writing of it and speaking it aloud? His waking up and going on the assignment and his relationship with the Editorial Board, doing favours for old times' sake. Fran (Dimples) and her being with him for the night, his dependence on her as his muse? Her staying and getting him breakfast etc.? Seeing Lou in action with the man that he was interviewing at the site of the fire, the policeman, using his influence to help people? (And people wanting their name in his column?) How evident was the character of Lou in Paul Sorvino's interpretation of him? Talking with Mark and the other boys? Talking with the apartment owner, with the workers around the place? His age, his talent for his own work, his reputation and impact on people? A kind, good man?

6. The impact on him of meeting Sarah, his fascination with her personality and beauty? The awkwardness of meeting her with David present and the tensions between the two? His fascination and appreciation of her at the rehearsal even when the choreographer was criticising her? His compulsion to talk with her, their eating out, his reaction to her wanting privacy? His falling in love with her and telling her? How genuine the feeling and the way this was presented on screen? The importance of the scene of farewelling Dimples and telling her the truth? The urgency of his breaking down Sarah's door, rushing to the rehearsal, the clash and finding out the truth about her illness? His cancelling the tickets? His concern with Mark and his reaction to Mark's death? The urgency of rushing back to the performance and being there to support Sarah, seeing her in the wings? The symbolism of his carrying her on stage at the end as a sign of their life together? How was his life and personality transformed by the encounter with Sarah?

7. How credible the picture of Lou as a type, man, the effect of the encounter and of love? His story as typical of the ones that he wrote about?

8. The introduction to Sarah, her feet dancing, contemporary music, her ballet? Her relationship with David and the growing tensions and clash? The importance of her getting her apartment by herself? Her hostile attitude towards the manager, towards Lou and his genial advice? Changing when she knew who he was? Rehearsing in his presence and being criticised by the director? The difficulties of ballet dancing, the memories of her family, her absent father ? and the showing of the photos to Lou? Her mother and her pushing herself to dancing even though her muscles were against it? The inflammation, the tensions and the effect on her? Trying to transcend the difficulties? Lou and his encouragement of her, her love?

9. How credible a person in herself? Her presence, appearance, style? Manner of speaking? Her relationship with Chris and his constant criticism and driving her, eventual praise of her? Roger as partner, friend, the advice and his taking her to the doctor? Her pain? The exhilaration of her dancing and the many sequences devoted to this? Her need to be alone? Her response to Lou's flowers, her love for Mr. Wright? The drive in her to dance - rehearsals on the roof, at the Lincoln Centre? The interviews with the doctor ? her acknowledging the truth but yet defying him? Lou's image of the mayfly and her giving her all for the one performance? Symbol of the slow dance on the roof? Her resistance to Lou and his amorous advances? The tensions of the night before the performance? Her clashing with Lou, the interview with the doctor and his advice? Her need for Lou and Chris' sensing of this and getting him to the performance?

10. The effect of this dancing experience on her, achievement and applause? Living out the image of the mayfly? Her future ? carried by Lou?

11. How well developed were the minor characters and their impact in the film? Chris and his intensity, moods and criticism, skill at choreography, final praise? Roger and his continued support? Barbara and her talk with Lou, explanations to him, chat with Sarah on the night before? The people at the rehearsals? The people that Lou met?

12. The ballet sequences and audience response to ballet - the contemporary ballet and its style? The explanation of the themes of creation, man-woman relationships, giving life for another? Barbara explaining these to Lou at the rehearsal and the audience? understanding it? Seeing the rehearsals, the final performance? The art, the symbolism, the woman dying, symbolising what was happening to Sarah?

13. The ordinary people in Lous life and their stories - the Jewish man and his house burnt down getting help, mark and his musical ability, the boys painting the train and the policeman pulling his gun, the owner of the apartments, the police and the nurses - the nurse who explained Mark's death?

14. The presentation of the intercrossing of these worlds and people's encounters? The message of the film, its quality, optimism and beauty?