What goes on in Pawhuska, Oklahoma’s Osage County?
Pawhuska, Oklahoma is not a very significant town, with not much to do except walk up and down the little shops or just stare at the open fields. The film August: Osage County, directed by John Wells and based on the play written by Tracy Letts, shows no more than this little town where a series of chaotic events take place. The main plot is focused around these main characters, Violet, who is the matriarch, played by Meryl Streep followed by Julia Roberts who plays the resentful yet reluctant oldest daughter Barbra.
The film begins when Beverly, played by Sam Sheppard, quotes, “Life is very long…” from poet, T.S. Elliot. Beverly has been around for many years; therefore, he is reflecting on his past as he is talking to a younger woman, Johanna, that he is hiring as a new caretaker for his wife, Violet. Meryl Streep’s character has cancer in her mouth, and while she takes her pills everyday, Beverly minds his own business carrying on with his life. Not saying that Beverly does not care about his wife anymore, but it is getting to the point where Violet no longer acts her usual self and it is getting harder for him to put up with. Because after a few minutes in, Beverly leaves for good without any notice.
After his departure is when the family reunion of sorts takes place, along with a series of unfortunate events. It can be seen in the film that since Violet and Beverly’s kids grew up, moved out and all were living different lives. Ivy, played by Juliet Nicolson, was still single at the time, living on her own and working…but she was hiding a secret relationship. Karen, played by Juliette Lewis, had been through many boyfriends, but is now happy with an older rich man. Then, there is Barbra who was married for a long time and now the tables have turned. A lot can be seen in the film about the characters, whether it is how they look or their behaviors. It is easier to be seen in the film, but the play does a good job to help visualize the characters as well.
In the play there is a scene when Johanna and Jean are talking together in the attic. The significance of this scene is telling the reader more about Johanna and Jean as character’s. This scene is not found in the film, but it adds some background to the characters when reading the play. It is easier to understand and go deeper into what was said when reading the play. Another point when reading the play, of any film, having included scenes help to visualize the characters better and understand their story.
The play along with the film does a credible job of following the same storyline and scenes. Although, there are a few scenes in the film that cannot be found in the play, and vise versa. Many scenes, in the film, can be shown taking place at the dinner table and every time there were a few characters in the dining room area, there seemed to be something new that was being uncovered.
In Act Two of the play one of the sister’s “secrets” was uncovered when Barbra and Bill’s relationship gets brought up. Violet brings up how she knows everything. “VIOLET: Truth is, sweetheart, you can’t compete with a younger woman, there’s no way to compete. One of those unfair things in life. Is there a younger woman involved? BARBARA: You’ve already said enough on this subject, I think- BILL: Yes. There’s a younger woman.” Barbra gets upset with her mother when this is said, but Ivy brings the attention off Barbra and brings it right back to Violet.
The story continues as more and more secrets are uncovered like, what happened to Beverly in the beginning and who Ivy’s secret relationship is with. But a major theme that is seen throughout both the play and film is character development. When all of the characters come into scenes, they were all thinking that they were never going to end back up at their childhood home in Osage County, Oklahoma, but in the end after they all go their separate ways, they all grew as an individual mentally after being there.
The play can help the reader understand more in depth of the character’s development. With the play including the movements of the characters and every little detail that would not be as noticed in the film, can add more to how the reader views the character. Barbra was at the house with her family, she had a very belligerent time, but after she left, she stopped by an open field took a deep breath in and out and realized that everything was going to be just fine. Violet, on the other hand, in the end is crying in Johanna’s arms. Meryl Streep’s character Violet sill developed throughout the film and play, but in the end, Violet realizes that she had her family all right there but now they are gone and there is nothing more she can do about it.
