On Valentine's Day Reviews

Adapted from one of Horton Foote's nine loosely autobiographical plays, 1918 (1985) follows the residents of a rural Texas town during the early 20th century. ON VALENTINE'S DAY is 1918's prequel. Elizabeth (Hallie Foote) and Horace Robedaux (William Converse-Roberts) have eloped, despite the disapproval of her wealthy parents. The couple now live in a small house with Bobby Pate (Richard Jenkins), an alcoholic whose wife has left him, and a lonely spinster (Carol Goodheart). Horace's cousin George (Steven Hill), an unhappy man slowly losing his mind over love for a long-dead woman, is a frequent visitor. A few months pass, but the troubles surrounding this household remain and fester. Bobby's alcoholism gets worse, while George's mind completely snaps. The story is told in a low-key manner, and this understated style deepens the complex emotions of the characters. Foote and Converse-Roberts are excellent as the struggling couple bound by a love that overcomes the tragedies surrounding their union. Supporting roles are perfectly cast, and, as in its predecessor, the period detail is exquisite. ON VALENTINE'S DAY moves at a slow, almost lyrical tempo, allowing its characters and themes to develop without affectation.