BEAUTIFUL

US, 2000, 112 minutes, Colour.
Minnie Driver, Joey Lauren Adams, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Kathleen Turner, Lesley Stefanson, Brigette Wilson, Michael Mc Keen.
Directed by Sally Field.

This is Sally Field's first feature as director. She brings a wealth of experience as a starlet on TV, a young actress, a respected star with two Oscars.

We see Mona as a gawky teenage girl, her mother cantankerous, her stepfather abusive. She escapes into the dreamworld of training for contests, paying her way, tripping up contestants. But she befriends Ruby, a shy girl who is a designer dressmaker. Together, they begin to win. As the adult Mona, Minnie Driver enters the film and dominates it in her now ruthless ambition. She uses people shamelessly and we wonder how she could ever be transformed (which we know she will be). Suffice to say that the climax is both expected and unexpected, except to say that it makes a statement on behalf of women.

1. A piece of Americana? The importance of beauty pageants? Response of woman for and against? The ethos? The nature of beauty? Transcending physical beauty?

2. The prologue and the newsreels, the musical score, the songs? The women, poses, costumes? The behaviour and joy of the winners?

3. Illinois in the 1980s, the small town, the house and its detail, the cities, television, the pageants?

4. The family, the broken family, the bed? The molestation? Gran? Mother and her aggravation, the critique, feeling not loved? Torched, selfish? The importance of giving – so beautiful? Betrayal, lying, love?

5. The focus on teeth, the cash, the payment? Participant? Verna Chickell and her influence? Mother away, school and calculation, Laura and lunch? The winning of the dress, the television crown and watching it?

6. Mona’s age, dancing and singing, Mona and sexuality, sharing with Ruby? The morning sickness? The nice interpretation?

7. Jo-Jo? and the clash, the burning, television, the investigation and the nastiness, Mona and her rudeness to Ruby, Mona’s avoidance? The end and frustration? Mona pushy, showy, extinguishing things? Joyce?

8. Mona and her selfishness, using people, hurting people, using the charities, the scandals?

9. Ruby as good, a friend, nice? Grandmother? Mother figure? Self-effacing, encouraging, generous? Mona’s smile?

10. The seven years, achievement, the aunt, the mother? Vanessa to be a soccer player? The autographs?

11. The planning for winning Miss America, the box on the television for the family? Vanessa and her reactions, the look-alike, Mona not taking her to the game, saying that she was an unloved child, the photos, her mother’s call?

12. The old lady, Oscar and his call, the pills, the arrest, court, jail?

13. The camera, the day in the life of Mona, the treatment and photos, the pregnant woman in the supermarket, singing ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’? The interview and the humiliation? The hostess and the old couple?

14. The visit to her mother, Vanessa, her mother not understanding? Orphans never learning words? “Mean lady”?

15. Grown up, Mona as a person, needing her mother, Ruby and her strong talk? Holding onto the bad? The night of reflection and not getting up?

16. Vanessa to go, supporting, appearing, Mona deciding about the television box?

17. The platform interviews, the send-up, sex and education, the crusade, the hotel? Clothes, Joyce? Lance Desolvo? Miss Texas and her ventriloquism?

18. The contestants, the confusion, especially about Mona not being married, Vanessa, “My mother”? Ruby’s call?

19. The night, the elimination, the instruments and the song? The truth, leaving, the votes and applause? Joyce’s response?

20. How satisfactory was the happy ending? The family relationships? Friendships? Mothers and daughters? Coaches? The characters of the various contestants, Miss Texas, Miss Tennessee, Miss America, Miss Host?

21. Audience interest – women and beauty pageants? Men? The themes transcending the pageants?