RACHEL, RACHEL

In 1968, Paul Newman's first attempt at producing and directing opened to movie screens nationwide.  The film was Rachel, Rachel, a restrained drama of self-discovery starring his wife, Joanne Woodward. The movie went on to earn four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Leading Actress for Woodward.

Rachel Cameron is a single, introverted schoolteacher living in the small town she grew up in.  She lives with her widowed, overbearing mother in an apartment above the Funeral Home that Rachel's father had operated when he was still alive.  Her life is dull and unrewarding and she often daydreams of moments from her childhood, and she imagines things she wishes might happen so that some spark of interest might fall upon her routine existence.

Rachel's one close friend is fellow spinster teacher Callie, whose persona isn't quite as muted as her own.  Callie has a bit of sass and enjoys interests beyond the classroom, including a newfound curiosity in attending Christian revival meetings.  Callie is played with charming zest by Estelle Parsons, whose performance earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.  Rachel reluctantly accompanies Callie to one such revival. During a moment when she is encouraged to express her need for the love of Jesus, Rachel releases her suppressed emotions to a level that frightens and embarrasses her.  As she tries to recompose herself, she becomes aware of a secret that Callie has been hiding and this creates a chasm in their friendship.       

As the school semester ends and summer looms upon her little Connecticut town, Rachel has a chance encounter with one of her former classmates.  Nik Kazlik (James Olson) and Rachel have a mutually shared childhood encounter that occurred when Nik's twin brother was brought to Rachel's father to be embalmed after he died. He's come home to visit his parents.  Like Rachel, he is also a teacher, though he teaches at an inner-city school in the Bronx.  After briefly catching up, Nik makes a pass at Rachel and she quickly turns him down.

Eventually, she allows herself to go out on a date with Nick, and at 35 years old, Rachel has her first sexual experience with another person.  Rachel begins to experience the emotional rollercoaster of a young girl.  She views this encounter as love rather than lust.  She feels shame and at the same time giddiness.  She worries that she didn't do it right, and then she wonders if Nik will see her again.  She starts to wonder what a life with Nik would be like, despite his reluctance to express interest in anything long-term.  And then... she worries that she may be pregnant. 

Woodward's performance is the very definition of a "tour de force".  It's flawless in every aspect.  She imbues Rachel in a manner that makes her captivating, despite how truly uninteresting her life seems to be.  The film itself is uncluttered by subplots, other than Rachel's flashbacks, which only enhances Woodward's opportunity to shine and the viewer's ability to be fully vested. 

While the film did not take home the Oscar for Best Picture, Joanne Woodward did take home an Oscar for Best Actress for her remarkable portrayal.  In my opinion, this film isn't quite as good as A Woman Under the Influence, but it reminded me of it in many ways. Both films featured a husband directing his real-life wife, and both broke with traditional filming structures of the time.  Both movies also address social truths that were typically not spoken about when they were made.  The major difference between the two is that in Woman, Gena Rowland's Mabel is a character who has always lived life on her own terms and to the fullest.  In Rachel, Rachel, it takes Joanne Woodward's Rachel thirty-five years to reach that same place.  But, watching her get there is a fulfilling cinematic treat.