Overview
The film Death of a Salesman (1984) was based on a play with a similar title from 1949 by Arthur Miller. The play was such a success that it was performed numerous times on Broadway and was also revived four times on the same stage. It is apparent that the movie came out decades later because of the successful nature of the play. The movie adheres to the plot of the play.
This film was overseen by Volker Schlondorff, and comprises of big names such as Kate Reid, Dustin Hoffman, Stephen Lang, Charles Durning, and John Malkovich. Both the film and the play are closely similar, but it is obvious that the film is based on the play rather than the other way round. The film won a Golden Globe award along with an impressive three Primetime Emmy Awards which is a clear manifestation of it success.
Plot
Dustin Hoffman, playing as Willy Loman, comes back home a bit jaded from an unsuccessful work-related trip. His wife Linda (played by Kate), is vexed over his well-being as he is just recuperating from a car crash and asks him to request his boss, Wagner (Jon Polito) to allow him work to from home instead of having to travel to another city. Loman does not hold the same view, and explains to his wife that their son Biff (John Malkovich) needs the money to have a bright future. Although Biff is doing well in athletics at school, he failed in math and could not attend college.
It is apparent that Willy’s mental capability is progressively degenerating, of which Biff and his brother Happy (Stephen Lang) have noted when they have continually found him talking to himself. In return, Loman is depressed that the two have not amounted to anything in their lives, but they deceive him that they already have a business plan laid down. In due course, Willy heeds the opinion suggested by his Linda and visits Howard to ask for any work in town. Simultaneously, Biff strives to conceive a business proposal, but both are unsuccessful at the end of the day.
Willy, Biff, and Happy go for dinner at a local restaurant, where Willy is reluctant to listen to “bad news” from Biff. Happy wants to be a part of a lie with Biff to their father who is now going into a flashback of an occurrence that had occurred in Boston. In the flashback, Willy had been on a work-related trip and was cut short when Biff went into the hotel room where he-Willy- was hosting a young lady. This ad made Biffs respect for is father to diminish.
An argument ensues when they get home, one of the notable ones pits Willy and Biff. Biff exclaims that they should consider the fact that maybe he was never meant to be anything big in life, maybe they all were not meant to be successful. The final scene is a bit moving where Willy and Biff hug and break into tears, and Biff tells his father that he loves him.
Impression
The film highlights the day to day melees that families face, and has an ending worth waiting for. On a personal level, in makes ta audience contemplate about their own family issues and the ending presents hope that all will be well.