KALIFORNIA

US, 1993, 117 minutes, Colour.
Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis, David Duchovny, Michelle Forbes.
Directed by Dominic Sena.

Kalifornia is a flashy but serious film about violence and serial killers. It is the first film directed by Dominic Sena, who worked with rock videos and commercials. It is visually very stylish.

However, the audience is made to be curious and voyeuristic about serial killers, their motivations, psychology, the actual violence of their crimes. David Duchovny portrays a writer who wants to do a study of serial killers, going to the places where the crimes were committed, with photographs by his girlfriend (Michelle Forbes). She is a photographer of sexuality - akin to the work of Robert Maplethorpe, the subject of censorship debates in the United States.

They need travelling companions to pay for expenses. Early Grayce, played with savage intensity by Brad Pitt, and his girlfriend Adele, a superb performance by Juliette Lewis, go travelling. Early, however, is psychopathic and kills before and during the trip. Ultimately there is a confrontation between the travellers - with the audience identifying with writer and photographer, and so becoming victims of the serial killer.

The film was well received critically - but indicates the difficulties for serious treatment of the phenomena of violence in society, its quick diffusion in news form, especially television, and the distance for making moral judgments.

1. Impact of the film, violence and killers, physical violence and death, psychological motivation, audience understanding of what happens in the mind of such a killer? The appropriateness of investigation?

2. The title and Kalifornia with a K - the state where dreams are fulfilled, the unreality of the dreams, `If not fulfilled in Kalifornia, then nowhere...'?

3. The drab Kentucky locations, Tennessee, Texas, Nevada and the atomic testing sites, California? The locations for ordinary American living, for social and psychological madness, for violence?

4. The opening and the hitch-hiker, the rock and the attack on the car, the deaths? Brian's voice-over and his comments about the penny dropped from the Empire State Building and its physical effect? His not crossing the line - but killers crossing the line? The musical score?

5. Brian and Carrie and their relationship, her photos and the emphasis on sexuality, not seeing any harm, art? Their own sexual relationship? Brian and his interest in violence, the article, his opening comments, the plan for the book to bring him out of writer's block? Brian curious, exploring motivation, the American violence psyche? The initial discussions with his friends about capital punishment, studying the perpetrators or executing them? His investigation - the facts, the nature of the violence, the mystery and the motivation?

6. Getting the idea for the ride, the university advertisement, friends' reactions, Carrie's disbelief? Only Early and Adele answering the advertisement? Their first impressions of the couple?

7. The discussions about friendship (and the ending of the film)? Differences being seen first, then similarities? The growing bonds? How did this happen for each of the four protagonists?

8. The initial glimpses of Early, his appearance, beard, clothes, the cafe, boisterous manner, ordering the chilli? The relationship with Adele, giving her the shoes, her birthday? Their life at home, the caravan park, the hostility to the dog, the clash with the owner? The parole officer and the discussions, Early's angers? His discussion about his dreams - and the door opening to the other side? Seeing the notice, digging the grave, killing the owner, torching the caravan - and an hour later cheerfully going on the trip?

9. Adele, in the restaurant, slow with the chili, the happiness with the shoes, at home, looking after Early, spelling the swear words, her limited intelligence, slow on understanding, her manner of speaking, vocabulary? Limited but genuine?

10. The journey across America, the traditions of the road movie - the purpose, audience sharing it, trying to understand the mind of killers? The first site and the child, Mr Baxter not letting them in, calling them ghouls? The story of the handyman, his quiet attitude, no more work and his killing his employers? The move to the factory, the story of the sexual victimisation and the return to kill? Going to the abattoirs - and Brian playing the tape? Carrie taking the photos - but her disgust at the abattoir playing of the tape? The irony of the nuclear test site, the homes, middle America, the mannequins? A scene of the potential for mass killing?

11. The journey and the experience of each of the four, their conversation topics, meals, payment or not, Early shrewd? Paying for the petrol? Early and his giving his theories about mass murderers - without much emotion, thinking how they got away with it?

12. The bonds between Early and Brian, discussions, going to play pool, the attack and Early's violent bashing reaction, Brian and the drinking, participating? Late home and Carrie's reaction? The discovery of the gun, Early shooting it - and Brian's ineffectiveness? The thrill of learning how to shoot?

13. The bonds between Carrie and Adele, staying at the motel, sharing thoughts and experiences, Adele's story about her mother, her bonds with Early? Early and his beating Adele? Adele admiring Carrie's hair, getting Early to cut her own, Carrie helping to trim in? The smoking and the drinking - when she was not supposed to? The effect on Carrie in terms of understanding and sympathy?

14. Carrie and her disgust about the tape, taking the photo of Early and Adele and their sexual encounter? Early seeing her? The later discussion about her portfolio - Adele's bemused reaction? Early and his considering the material pornographic?

15. Early and his needing the money to pay for the petrol, the man in the car, the washroom, the brutality of his killing? The later information on the television, Walter at the service station and his fears, Carrie in the station, Walter asking for the Bible, lying down on the floor, Early's malicious killing him? No conscience? Adele and her continued denial of what had happened?

16. Going to the house with the elderly couple, taking over the house, terrorising the woman, her denial about her husband, Early finding him, his looking at the stars, the brutality of his death? Early mimicking his words to the woman? Adele letting the woman go? Early and his anger with Adele - and the audience seeing her dead?

17. Early and Carrie in the nuclear test house, Nevada and the tests, the mannequins - and Early arranging them in sexual patterns? His brutality towards Carrie? Brian, the violence, the woman helping him with the truck?

18. The final confrontation, Brian and Early, Carrie? The bashing, the shooting? Brian and Carrie aware that such violence was within them?

19. The aftermath in California, their settling down, Brian and the book, Carrie and the possibility of an exhibition? The pathos of playing the tape and the final words and images of Adele talking about the possibilities of friendship?

20. The visual portrayal of violence - for its own sake, for insight? The value of a confronting film like Kalifornia?