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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 25, 1994

ENTERTAINMENT

Six Degrees of Separation is poignant and witty

by Seth Hill

Acclaimed as one of the year's best motion pictures, director Fred Schepisi's adaptation of John Guare's award-winning play Six Degrees of Separation is a poignant yet surprisingly witty commentary on many of today's most challenging issues.

The film opens in a posh Manhattan apartment, home to Ouisa (Stockard Channing) and Flan Kittredge (Donald Sutherland). Flan is an art dealer who is finalizing negotiations of a sale of a multimillion-dollar Cezanne to a Japanese buyer. The Kittredges, while attempting to acquire $2 million from long-time friend Geoffrey (Ian McKellen), are interrupted by Paul (Will Smith), a young black man, who has allegedly been stabbed by a mugger in nearby Central Park. Because he claims to be a friend of the Kittredges' children in college, Flan and Ouisa welcome him into their home in order to comfort him.

In the conversation that follows, Paul astounds all present with a touching exposition of the emotional and social dynamics of Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. It is during this conversation that Paul reveals the identity of his father, Sidney Poitier, whose current endeavor is a movie rendition of Cats. Having touched the hearts and stirred the whimsy of the Kittredges, Paul is invited to accompany them to dinner; instead, he creates and serves a veritable feast to his gracious hosts.

Paul further explains that he has no place to stay for the evening, since his father will not be in town until seven the next morning. In light of these extenuating circumstances, the Kittredges offer an extra bedroom to

him for the night. However, the wonderful experience is halted abruptly as Ouisa discovers Paul in bed with a male hustler the following morning.

The Kittredges are alarmed to find out that similar experiences have occurred with their best friends and colleagues. It is at this point that the real chaos ensues.

The Kittredges et al. conclude that they have only one tie with one another: their children attended high school together. Evoking the assistance of their resentful and spiteful offspring, the advent of Paul is linked to Trent (Anthony Michael Hall), a fellow classmate of theirs. Trent befriended Paul on a lonely Boston night in search of sexual companionship. In the three months that followed, Trent instructed Paul in the ways of the upper class, affording him the wherewithal to assimilate into the lives of the Kittredges and others.

After the suicide of a young man with whom he became involved and subsequently extorted money, Paul becomes frightened and returns to Ouisa for guidance. The police have now become involved in the search for Paul.

Although Paul has put up a front to the Kittredges, Ouisa displays genuine concern for him, and attempts to assist him in rectifying the situation in which he has placed himself. Her endeavor is thwarted, though, by uncompassionate and detached law enforcement officials.

Schepisi masterfully retains Guare's juxtaposition of seemingly diametrically opposed extremes. The Kittredges, their wealth, and isolation are contrasted to Paul's poverty and exposure to all walks of life. Yet

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Stockard Channing and Donald Sutherland are a wealthy couple who discover their house guest isn't quite what he seems to be.

they are similar in many ways, the most obvious that their respective realities are largely contrived. Their true identities are masked by numerous instances of social instruction and regulation.

Paul and the Kittredges have educated one another, so to speak. Ouisa and Flan have opened their hearts to Paul, showing concern and compassion to which he has never been subjected. Conversely, Paul has demonstrated to them (Ouisa expressly) the errors of materialism and false interests.

While at times it is evident that Six Degrees of Separation was written for live performance-namely in the dialogue and interaction between the characters-nevertheless it retains the emotional energy so often lacking in modern motion pictures.

Altogether, Six Degrees of Separation is an extraordinary film, one which will evoke a wide range of feelings from the audience and force them to consider the repercussions of their preconceived ideals. ✓

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