BRIDGE TO SILENCE
US, 1989, 92 minutes, Colour.
Marlee Matlin, Lee Remick, Josef Sommer, Michael O'Keefe.
Directed by Karen Arthur.
Bridge to Silence is an American telemovie, appealing to the widest audience and involving them emotionally with the characters and their crises. It is a star vehicle for deaf actress Marlee Matlin (Oscar-winner for Children of a Lesser God). She is a persuasive and powerful screen presence and in this film she actually speaks as well as signs. She is well matched by Lee Remick playing her mother, who never accepted her deafness, who wants to control and manage her daughter and her granddaughter's life. Michael O'Keefe has a good role as the sympathetic friend. Josef Sommer is also most genial as the heroine's father.
The film starts with an accident and tile heroine having to cope with her husband's death. Her mother interferes and takes charge of her child. She secludes herself but is gradually persuaded to come out and involve herself in the theatre for the deaf, especially a production of The Class Menagerie in which parallels are made between herself and Laura, the mother in the play and her own Mother.
There are many sad and emotional sequences, but there is also a strength in the writing and not everything is predictable. Moving.
1. A focus on the deaf, on relationships?
2. American telemovie style, the broad appeal, affluent characters, emotional crises, handicaps?
3. The plausibility of the plot, audiences identifying with the characters, the initial accident and grief, emotional crises, resolution?
4. The opening. with the accident, the relationship between John and Peggy, Lisa? Hospital, Dan tending John and being present when he died? Trying to keep him alive? Lisa unhurt? Peggy and her injuries and grief? Her reaction to John's death?
5. The portrait of Peggy: Marly Matlin's presence and style, as a woman, wife and mother? Deaf? her relationship with her parents? Fighting with her mother, the bitterness between the two? Her love for her daughter? The support of her friends? The mother deciding about her going home, taking Lisa? Her returning alone and closing herself in? Her mother's concern, visit, the clash between mother and daughter? Danny's coming, persuading her to venture out? Her playing Laura in The Glass Menagerie? Her visit to her daughter, her mother's protectiveness of Lisa? Her dreams and memories of John? Talking with Dan, the clash, his declaration of love and her violent reaction? Telling him that she saw him telling her of John's death? The rehearsal of the play, his angry outburst, mutual apology? The letter from her father, warning her about her mother's actions? Her father's continued love and support, always coining to the plays, to the opening night? The performance, the unicorn scene, the breaking of the
horn? The triumph of the play? Declaration of her friendship with Dan, love for her father and Lisa? Finding her mother, her mother telling her the truth about her illness, responsibility, blaming herself? The cape and the parallel with the play? Reconciliation? The portrait of Peggy?
6. Marge and her control, perfectionism, taking charge? Her relationship with her daughter, the clash? Love for her husband? Not learning how to sign? Freezing out Peggy's friends? Taking Lisa and possessing her, playing with her? Interrupting others when they were enjoying their company? Her fears, the clash with Peggy, her being hurt, going to the lawyers, the clash with AI, her grief? Looking over the photos? The decision to go to the play, her being overwhelmed, meeting her daughter, admitting the truth, breaking the horn of the unicorn and becoming normal again? Reconciliation?
7. Al and his goodness, support for his wife and daughter, quite presence, genial, handling the death and accident situation, always going to his daughter's plays, ringing Dan and his concern about the daughter, writing the letter and asking him to be present when she read it, at the play?
8. Dan and his friendship with John, the best man and godfather, at John's death, unable to keep him alive, telling Peggy? Continued support, directing the play, getting Peggy out of the house, telling of his love and his anger
with himself at his insensitivity, the rehearsal and his anger, the mutual apology, the performance of the play, the mutual friendship?
9. The background of the school and the theatre group, their friendship, coming to Peggy's support, the funeral, the play and performance?
10. Lisa and her love for her mother, speaking English but also signing to communicate with her? The effect of the accident? Separation from her mother, her grandmother caring for her and spoiling her? The illness and Marge's concern that there would be a repetition of the same situation? Reconciliation with her mother?
11. The death, the handicap, world of silence, signing and talking? Communication and the ‘happy birthday to Lisa’ meal? Self-image, relating? Audience insight and sympathy?
