BOOK VS MOVIE: Housekeeping

As one goes through life, very rarely is it in their favor. Close connections crumble, hopes and dreams don't come to fruition, and happiness and disappointment often go hand in hand. That all being said, that doesn't generally mean life is boring and predictable.

If anything, life is what you make of it. And the people you encounter are the ones who help shape it (for better or for worse). Be it family and friends or complete strangers, how they interact with you and make you see the world around you leave a lasting impact, good or bad. But this always depends on the person in question.

Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping follows such a scenario. Under the care of their eccentric aunt, two girls grow up differently in a remote town. Robinson weaves a tale of loneliness amid family ties, how your own blood can be a complete stranger. But she also shows how one has a hunger for individuality, that drive for independence. (Everybody wants to be somebody.)

Bill Forsyth's adaptation follows Robinson's novel practically to the letter. (Forsyth said he made the film to get people to read the book.) Similar to his earlier film Local Hero, Forsyth depicts a lingering pathos within its frames. Even something so open can feel so lonely.

So which is worth checking out? Robinson has a poetry in her words while Forsyth sings with his images. Both tell the story in their own way but very similarly as well. It's a simple tale, yes, but they convey it beautifully.

What's worth checking out?: Both.

Gregory's Girl

Ah, the coming of age genre. The one that examines the many awakenings one encounters during their youth. Frequently the main awakening is one of a sexual nature but sometimes (far the sake of reaching a wider audience) the tamer equivalent comes into play.

The latter is on full display in Bill Forsyth's Gregory's Girl. Focusing on the titular Gregory (John Gordon Sinclair) as he tries to survive sixth form, it's a step up from the numerous high school-set films of the 1980s in that there's more personality within the characters.

As Forsyth would do two years later with Local Hero, Gregory's Girl depicts an array of character types, showing that no two people are truly alike. (Casual side note there, aspiring writers.) But like his follow-up film, Forsyth has a sense of unity within these characters.

As stated earlier, Gregory's Girl was released at the beginning of an era of high school films, an era where young stars became household names. Sinclair, who was also in Forsyth's debut That Sinking Feeling, captures Gregory's many plights with ease. (And unlike the stars of most high school films, Sinclair was a teenager when he made the film.)

Gregory's Girl is an endearing work. It could make one nostalgic for their teenage years (as well as grateful that they're no longer living them). It's a title that one should seek out at least once.

My Rating: ****

Local Hero

You can't help but feel a little sorry for "Mac" MacIntyre (Peter Riegert) at the beginning of Bill Forsyth's Local Hero. He's only been assigned to scout a small town in Scotland because of his Scottish heritage. The only problem is that he isn't Scottish, so he'll basically be a fish out of water.

But Forsyth doesn't make his film the typical "fish out of water" story. Early on, Mac adapts to the lifestyle of the Scottish tow. He doesn't struggle with either their ways of living or their accents. He just sees as down to earth living, a stark contrast of his high-functioning life in the States.

The actors are unique. Not long after his success in Animal House, Riegert shows a calmer side to his acting. He's not swarmed by many big names. (The only actors I recognized were an aged Burt Lancaster and a young Peter Capaldi.) Many of Riegert's co-stars are unknowns, and I think that aides the film a bit. Instead of having numerous actors to keep track of, you have a few recognizable names to remember.

And I have to talk about Chris Menges' cinematography. The way he captures the Scottish landscape is absolutely gorgeous. And his frequent use of silhouetting the actors against the night sky is also very lovely.

I very much enjoyed Local Hero. What sounded like a complex story is actually something quite simple in depiction. This is something I've always said and it's something I'll keep saying: sometimes you just need a good story to make a great film.

My Rating: *****