Common Ground(2000 film)

Common Ground
Directed by	Donna Deitch
Written by	Paula Vogel(segment "A Friend of Dorothy's" ) Terrence McNally(segment "Mr. Roberts" ) Harvey Fierstein(segment "Andy & Amos" )
Produced by	Brian Kerwin A.D. Oppenheim
Starring	Edward Asner Beau Bridges Harvey Fierstein Brian Kerwin Margot Kidder James LeGros Brittany Murphy Jason Priestley Mimi Rogers Helen Shaver Eric Stoltz Jonathan Taylor Thomas Steven Weber
Distributed by	Showtime
Release date	January 29, 2000(2000-01-29)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Common Groundis a 2000Showtimetelevision filmdirected byDonna Deitchand written byPaula Vogel,Terrence McNallyandHarvey Fierstein.

Plot

"A Friend of Dorothy's"

In the 1950s, Dorothy Nelson (Brittany Murphy) joins the United States Navy where she meets theFriends of Dorothy,a code name for a group of gay and lesbian sailors. She meets Billy (Jason Priestley), who takes her to an interracial nightclub that accepts gay people. However, theNISraids the club, and Dorothy is among those servicemembers who receive ablue dischargefor "sexual perversion".Returning to Homer, she tries to restart her life as a public school teacher, but her unfavorable discharge prevents her from getting a job. When her homosexuality becomes public knowledge, Dorothy's mother expels her from the house, forcing her to seek shelter at a family friend's grocery store. However, her presence drives away the customers, and the friend has no choice but to ask her to leave. An independent-minded woman named Janet (Helen Shaver) at the local diner defends her against bullies chasing her and lets her spend the night. She calls a friend in New York City'sbohemianGreenwich Villageto take Dorothy in for a week, advising her that moving to a place like that is the best way for her to be free to be herself. Dorothy permanently leaves Homer on a bus the next morning.

"Mr. Roberts"

The second story flashes forward to the town of Homer in the 1970s, towards the end of theVietnam War.There, aclosetedgay high school French teacher, Mr. Roberts (Steven Weber), has a student named Toby Anderson (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), who is on the verge of coming out of the closet, and who he suspects wishes to confide in him. Roberts must keep his homosexuality a secret for fear of losing his job, but his live-in boyfriend Gus (Scott McCord) pressures him to set a good example for the students by illustrating the importance of tolerance and justice. Toby visits aprostitutereferred to him by his swim coach, thinking that she might help him "become a man", but instead she gives him some good advice about being himself.

After Toby issexually assaultedby bullies in the locker room and discovered by Roberts, Roberts decides to finally stop being a coward andcomes outto his students, and lecturing them on the evils of bias-motivated hatred. Toby graduates high school and leaves Homer to attendHarvard.

"Andy and Amos"

The final short story takes place in the present day (2000), when a father and the townspeople have to come to terms with the fact that two men will be getting married during a commitment ceremony to be held in the town. Ira (Ed Asner), the father, is planning to lead a protest march against the wedding, while his son, Amos (James LeGros), is nervous about getting married and going against the cultural stereotype of gay men. The film ends on a positive note, with father and son reconciling and the wedding taking place as scheduled.

Cast

• Edward Asneras Ira
• Beau Bridgesas Father Leon
• Harvey Fiersteinas Don
• Brian Kerwinas Chuck Dawson
• Margot Kidderas Mrs. Nelson
• Erik Knudsenas Young Johnny Burroughs
• James LeGrosas Amos
• Brittany Murphyas Dorothy Nelson
• Jason Priestleyas Billy
• Mimi Rogersas McPherson
• Helen Shaveras Janet
• Eric Stoltzas Johnny Burroughs
• Jonathan Taylor Thomasas Tobias "Toby" Anderson
• Steven Weberas Gil Roberts
• Scott McCordas Gus
• Caterina Scorsoneas Peggy

Production

A Friend of Dorothy'swas written by Paula Vogel;Mr. Robertswas written by Terrence McNally; andAndy & Amoswas written by Harvey Fierstein.

The plays starBrittany Murphy,Jason Priestley,Steven Weber,Jonathan Taylor Thomas,Edward AsnerandJames LeGros.The film contains three short stories about gay Americans during different time periods in the fictional town of Homer,Connecticut,and their efforts to find "common ground" or respect from the heterosexual majority.

External links

• Common GroundatIMDb