QUARTET
UK, 1981, 101 minutes, Colour.
Alan Bates, Maggie Smith, Isabelle Adjani, Anthony Higgins, Pierre Clementi, Suzanne Flon, Sheila Gish.
Directed by James Ivory.
Quartet is based on the novel by author Jean Rhys. It has been adapted for the screen by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. She has worked for many years with producer Ismael Merchant and director James Ivory. They have collaborated on a number of films about India including Hullaballoo Over George and Bonnie's Pictures and adaptations of Henry James such as The Europeans and The Bostonians.
The film has a very strong cast and Isabel Adjani won Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film was based on the experiences of Jean Rhys and author Ford Madox Ford. It re-creates the world of wealthy expatriates in Paris in the '20s. Their aspirations to art, culture, sophistication. It also highlights the tangles of their lives. An artificial entertainment but one which offers much for reflection.
1. The impact of the film? A re-creation of a period? Portrait of characters and their Interaction, emotional tangling?
2. The re-creation of Paris in the '20s? Society? Decor, costumes? Colour photography to highlight the mood and atmosphere of the period? Musical score for mood? The quality of the star cast? Awards?
3. The title and its focus on the four main characters? A quartet and the relationships between the four people -linking, opposition, collaboration? What did each give to the other? How did each affect the other, for better, for worse?
4. Audience response to Parisian society in the '20s? The expatriates and their lifestyle? Wealth, art, sophistication? Their contrast with their lives at home? An international community? Free from the restraints at home?
5. H.J. Heidler: his presence in Paris, his wealth, doing good for others? His relationship with his wife? His attraction towards Marya? Taking her into his home? The couple spoiling her? The relationship with Marya? Lois' reaction? The place in society? outings, restaurants, clubs, shooting trips? Marya and her becoming H. J's mistress? The hotel? The encounter with Theo, his work as a photographer, her discovering his pornographic photos? Marya and the letter to H. J.? The possibility of suicide? Marya asking for money, her wanting to rejoin Stephan? The background of her relationship with Stephan? Money, shady deals? Meeting him on his release from prison? The clash? His leaving with Mademoiselle Chardin? Marya's future - the encounter with Schlamovitz?
6. Heidler and his self-centredness, relationship with his wife, using of Marya, needing both women? His turning against Marya, not giving her money? His future with his wife?
7. Lois and her relationship with her husband, allowing him to go his own ways, her work as an artist? Her response to Marya? Allowing her into the household? Spoiling her? Lois' concern about her, suicide possibilities? Lois reading her letter, sending a friend to help her? Lois' strength of character, weaknesses of character, dependence?
8. The background of Stephan and his relationship with Marya, his being in jail, his posing as an art dealer, his trafficking in drugs, his being in prison, unable to provide for Marya? The reuniting? Having to leave France? The suspicions? His reaction when he discovers the truth about her, his violent response, his taking up with the other woman?
9. Theo and his charm, background as a photographer, the pornography? Relationship with Marya, using her?
10. The background detail of this Parisian world - the sequences in nightclubs, restaurants? The background of the songs sung by Armelia McQueen? The dance by Les Oiseaux? The audition of Marya to the entrepreneurs who ignore her?
11. The film's great attention to detail, accuracy, sense of period? How persuasive?
12. Characters moving in a sealed and isolated world, interacting with each other, not allowing others to move out of this world? A stifling quartet?
