THE MAN FROM ELYSIAN FIELDS
US, 2001, 104 minutes, Colour.
Andy Garcia, Mick Jagger, Olivia Williams, Julianna Margulies, James Coburn, Michael Des Barres.
Directed by George Hickenlooper.
The Man from the Elysian Fields is an unusual Los Angeles story, a variation on the Faust and the Devil theme. The title refers to a company for escorts, run by a very English Mick Jagger. The Man from the Elysian Fields is also Andy Garcia, a failed writer who is desperate to support his wife (Julianna Margulies) and his young son. He is tempted by the escort manager to become an escort, tempted, hesitating, repulsed, yet desperate and accepting the offer.
The film is complex in showing the author’s love for his wife and family yet going along with the escort work. He is asked to escort the wife of a famous novelist whom he had studied at university and admired (Olivia Williams is the wife, James Coburn the novelist). Needless to say, there are emotional as well as moral complexities. He is also invited to co-write a novel with the dying author – and then is tricked by the wife.
The film becomes moral at the end with the author having to face what he has done – but, with a soft and optimistic ending, writing his experiences as a novel and being able to be reconciled with his wife.
The film was directed by George Hickenlooper who began his film career as a director with a documentary on Francis Ford Coppola and the making of Apocalypse Now, The Heart of Darkness.
1.The title, Luther, Byron? The evocative nature of the title, Greek mythology? The realism of the region of Los Angeles?
2.Los Angeles in the 1990s, the book world, with world of authors, clubs, society? Ordinary Los Angeles life, homes and families? The musical score?
3.Expectations, the unexpected turn of the plot? Issues: employment, money and poverty, family, the escort business? Ethical issues? The variation on Faust and the Devil and the pact? Selling one’s soul and having to accept the consequences?
4.Luther’s voice-over, his perspective on Byron? Luther as the Devil making the pact? Temptations, the bargaining, insinuation, flattery, the final surprise? His office, his secretary, his card? Nigel as an escort, the set-up, the clothes? The phone calls, the clients? The glimpse of the range of wealthy women as clients?
5.Byron as a writer, Hitler’s Children, taking seven years? In the bookshop, the discussion with the woman customer, the autograph and her throwing it back? Taking his new manuscript to his editor, the editor’s rejection, not wanting microcosms and readers not wanting them? Going to his former employer whom he had insulted, asking for his job back, his being taunted? Going to his father-in-law to try to borrow money for the family?
6.Dena and Nathaniel, her love and devotion, the testing of her relationship to Byron, her shame in discovering his job?
7.Byron’s response to Luther, the temptations, the deal, his hesitation, the touch of the prudish? Their discussions, his decision, meeting with Nigel, Nigel’s observations? His lies to Dena, going out, his cover?
8.The world of Andrea and Tobias, his past seminar on Tobias’s work, his admiration, buying the books, reading them? Taking Andrea out, her style, the second time, the sexual encounter, Tobias coming into the room, the apology? The effect? A bond with Andrea, the touch of falling in love yet his devotion to Dena? Her charm, her love? Her love for Tobias? Helping him to die?
9.Tobias, his character, irascible, dying, self-styled genius? His giving the manuscript to Byron to read? Andrea’s reaction, Byron finding it difficult to comment? Finally talking, Tobias’s anger? His proposal to co-write? Though only a verbal agreement? Tobias, the work, exhilaration, completing the work? Waiting until his death for it to be published, to capitalise on it? Talking to Byron and the transition to his funeral scene?
10.Andrea, her change, hard, hard-hearted, the decision about no credit for Byron, the effect on him? Disillusionment?
11.Luther, his companion, taking her out over the years, at the concert, meals, getting advice from her about Byron, the proposal and her laughing at him?
12.Dena, the neglect, Byron’s anger, finding the card, hiring Nigel, the confrontation?
13.Byron and his upset, the encounter with Luther, Luther saying he had not made any guarantees?
14.Byron waiting at table, his advice about writing the menu? Meeting Dena, her leaving? The phone number for Nathaniel?
15.His writing the book, the passing of time, the book-signing, Luther watching, Dena and her asking for the book to be signed? Asking him why he had not said all this to her? Their going off together? The end of the Faustian pact? The learning experience, the moral crisis?
