December 28, 1990
BREATHING LESSONS
Screenplay by Frank Galati, based on novel by Anne Tyler
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
MAGGIE MORAN, 46, is a housewife, mother of two, married to IRA MORGAN, 50, with an athletic build and a sad smile. Her daughter, DAISY, 17, is about to go off for college. Her son, JESSE, is divorced and lives in his own apartment. He had gotten married to FIONA while in high school. Jesse had gotten Fiona pregnant, so they quit high school, got married, moved in with Ira and Maggie, and had a daughter who they named LEROY. Eventually, they got divorced. Jesse sat around moping until finally he got a crummy job and moved out on his own.
We learn all about this background as Maggie and Ira head from their home in Baltimore to a funeral in Pennsylvania. Years ago, they had attended the wedding of SERENA PALERMO to MAXWELL GILL and now Max has died. En route to the funeral, Maggie starts nagging Ira to stop in Deer Lick to visit Fiona and Leroy. Ira is reluctant. They stop at a diner and Maggie tells her life story to a waitress. Back on the road, Maggie and Ira argue and makeup. They go to the funeral where Serena asks them to sing the song they sang on Serens and Max's wedding day. Reluctantly, they comply, but it appears a bizarre thing to do. At the get-together after the funeral, Serena catches Ira and Maggie fooling around in her bedroom and asks them to leave. They do. Maggie finally convinces Ira to stop and visit Fiona and Jesse. Jesse plays with Leroy while Maggie convinces Fiona to come stay at their house for a few days and try to patch things up with Jesse. Reluctantly, Fiona agrees, having been convinced that Jesse is still in love with her and wants a reconciliation.
They arrive home in Baltimore. Maggie calls Jesse and nags him to come for dinner. Reluctantly, he agrees. Ira, Maggie, Daisy, Jesse, Fiona and Leroy sit down to dinner. They begin to argue, bringing up all of the old arguments. Jesse leaves in anger. Fiona leaves, but allows Leroy to spend the night with her grandparents. Ira finally tells Maggie what a nagging, busybody she really is and has been all these years. Maggie agrees and finally realizes her life is with Ira and not about interfering with everyone else's life.
Summary Criticism: This is a sweet and charming account of a busybody, very reminiscent of "Come Home Little Sheba" in tone. The characters are realistic and sympathetic.
Breathing Lessons (1994) - imdb
Breathing Lessons (1994) - wiki
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