THE TENDER AGE
US, 1985, 103 minutes, Colour.
John Savage, Tracy Pollan, Roxanne Hart, Richard Jenkins, Kevin Bacon.
Directed by Jan Eggleson.
The Tender Age (Little Sister) was written and directed by Jan Egelston ( A Shock to the System) for the American playhouse. It concerns a probation officer, his family relationships with his young daughter, his work and dedication, sees himself as a saviour figure, his infatuation with a teenage rich girl mixed up with drugs and a gang. John Savage plays the probation officer. Tracey Pollen is the teenage girl. Roxanne Hart is Savage's love interest. There is an uncredited performance by Kevin Bacon as a colleague in the office. The film focuses on the personal drama but places it in the context of the 80s American city, family break-up, pressures in families, gangs, drug dealing and violence. The film offers a portrait of a character caught up and overcome by events. It offers insight into the American cities of the eighties.
1. Impact of the film? Drama? Social and family issues? Designed for American playhouse and television audiences?
2. The city locations, the atmosphere of the city, wealthy homes, police stations and courts, the world of the probation officers, the gangs, strip joints, drug world?
3. The titles and their reference?
4. The focus on Tim and his life and work: his wife, grief, his daughter and their relationship? Caring for her? His dedication to his work? His case list, relationship with the young people on probation? His relationship with his colleagues - and the story telling with his yuppie colleague? Seeing himself as a saviour - and the police criticism of him? Going to court, pleading cases? His relationship at the office with Sarah? Watching the jugglers with his daughter, seeing Nicky, her provocative attitude? Kevin and his friends? The relationship with Nicky, an interest in her, in court, promising probation? Her parents and their talk to him? His relationship with the police, friendship, criticism of his methods? The affair with Sarah? Following Nicky, the emotional response? The sexual encounter and its effect on him, on Nicky? Nicky and the rescue of Kevin from the dealers? His job, suspicions of drug dealers, going to the strip joints, interviewing? His misjudging Nicky's father? Sarah's video interview and her explanations about the abuse? His watching it with her father? His scattering his wife's ashes? Crisis period? the effect of his work and relationships on him, on his daughter? Future?
5. Nicky and her background, her relationship with Kevin and the gang, around the streets, the cars, the crashes? The drugs and the strip joints? Flirting with danger? Provocative towards Tim? The nightclubs, the dancing? Knowing her attraction? Taunting him, being tough? The courts and her probation? Discussions with her mother, returning home, the tension with her father? Her sister? Protective of her sister? The sexual encounter with Tim and its effect on her? Giving him the information about Kevin so that he would be rescued? Her return home, defiance of her father? The video interview with Sarah, her breaking down, the abuse, the experience? Her future?
6. The portrait of her parents, wealthy background, lifestyle? The father and his relationship with his daughters? Oppressive? Abuse? Their reactions, Nicky leaving home, the sister at home? The mother and her desperation? At the court? The video and Nicky's frankness, the father watching and its effect on him?
7. The gangs, the streets, Kevin and his friends, the drugs? Strip joints and the sleazier part of the city? Kevin and his drug taking, the final episode in the warehouse, the window, the violence, Tim handling him, getting him to drop the gun, bringing him out?
8.The world of the city, sleaze, drugs? The personalities and their deals? Exploiting young people? The response of the police, integrity, corruption and deals?
9. Sympathetic portrait of the difficulties in the American city of the 80s? The humane aspects? Exploitation?
