THE SECRET OF LIVES OF DENTISTS

US, 2002, 104 minutes, Colour.
Campbell Scott, Hope Davis, Denis Leary, Robin Tunney.
Directed by Alan Rudolph.

Not a box office marquee title. However, this is a serious portrait of a professional couple, both dentists, life at home, some gradual estrangement, the relationship with their daughters.

The film was directed by Alan Rudolph, a protege of Robert Altman, director of a number of offbeat films including Songwriter, Remember Me. Campbell Scott and Hope Davis are strong in the central roles, the narration by Scott, his perspective on his life, his marriage, suspicions that his wife was having an affair, becoming obsessed, especially in his imagination, causing tensions at home including the psychosomatic illness of his youngest daughter and then the illness of his wife.

Denis Leary portrays a bumptious client, complaining about dentists, and then finding that his filling has fallen out. He then becomes a character in the family drama, continually present to the husband, criticising him, commenting – he is really being an alter ego of the husband.

This is a film of special interest to married couples with families, a chance to look at what has happened over a period of 10 years, remembering love in the past, and coping with professional work, personal relationships, obsessions, jealousies and fears.

1. The title, expectations, obtained?

2. An American family, situations, problems? Professional people, the pressures in business, life?

3. The portrait of dentists, their work in detail, David explaining the work of dentists, the importance of teeth, identification, long preserved after death? The visuals of dental work? The customers, the initial work with Slater, his sardonic remarks about dentists, his own mouth, trumpet player, the treatment, the later complaint at the opera that the filling came out?

4. David and Dana at home, a couple, their love, taking each other for granted? The girls, ages, wilful and demanding? The complaints? The youngest wanting her father rather than her mother? The youngest getting sick, psychosomatic, the diagnosis that she was sharing her parents’ anxiety?

5. David, his character, age, experience, the flashbacks with his memories, meeting with Dana, their studies, love, sharing, marriage, the passing of the years, the effect? Talking together, at home, the bedroom?

6. Dana, as observed by David, the past, the years, her work as a dentist, sharing with her husband? The rehearsals for the opera, loving the singing, the excitement? The taking up of her free time? Driving to the opera, the anticipation of the girls? The rabbit’s foot and David taking it for Dana, seeing the kiss, the unidentified man, the questions as to who it was, David and his imaginations of Dana’s sexual behaviour, collaborators at the dentistry, the conductor? His concern, the children becoming ill? Dana becoming ill?

7. The opera, the staging, Slater and his being present, standing up and attacking David, David willing to repay?

8. Slater continually appearing, becoming David’s alter ego, the constant presence, talk, observing, advice, criticising? The effect of his presence?

9. Laura, at work, David’s associate, helping? Coming to the home? And David imagining her sexually? The song?

10. Consulting the doctor on the phone about the children, the doctor’s advice about the parents and their tension?

11. The trip, its effect, the possibility for David to come to his senses? To talk with Dana, her point of view and experience, the daughter wanting her mother?

12. The psychological study of professional adults, the work and pressures, marriage, tensions, family – and the pressure after 10 years of marriage?