Primary Colors

Like no other film, Primary Colors has received a mass of free advertising and extra publicity in the wake of the sex scandal in the White House. The nausea threshold was passed long ago as far as the real-life Monicagate is concerned (so leave the man alone), but that said, the old comedy duo Mike Nichols and Elaine May have produced an intelligent satire which may well be aimed at the current presidential couple, but is just as much about morals and values in American politics. In that respect it is rather reminiscent of the somewhat older "The Candidate", in which Robert Redford's character loses his illusions in the cynical atmosphere of the election campaign. The difference between the two films is that Primary Colors is more entertaining and sharper.

The main character in Primary Colors is actually not Governor Jack Stanton and his shrewd wife Susan, but young Henry Burton, grandson of a well-known civil rights campaigner, who is given a position of great trust as a campaign worker for the governor. At first Henry is captivated by Jack Stanton's whole manner, but gradually he sees the actor in the governor, who always knows which face to pull. Henry also witnesses how Stanton's political life is threatened by his appetite for women. First it is his wife's hairdresser (Gia Carides); later he gets the 15-year-old daughter of the owner of his favourite restaurant pregnant. Campaign workers Henry, Daisy and Jemmons have their hands full. When things really heat up, an old friend of the family is called in, the brilliant but mentally unstable Libby, but after saving Stanton she commits suicide when she discovers that nothing is left of Stanton's ideals and selfless fighting spirit. In this way the film also strikes some rather darker chords. Henry then gathers his things and leaves, while the presidential candidate, his wife and staff celebrate yet another victory.