THE NAIROBI AFFAIR
US, 1988, 95 minutes, Colour.
Charlton Heston, John Savage, Maud Adams, John Rhys- Davies, Connie Booth.
Directed by Marvin J. Chomsky.
The Nairobi Affair is a pleasant, if routine, telemovie with an African setting. The focus is on Kenya, Nairobi, the African countryside with its range of animals. The plot is fairly straightforward, dealing with hunting and the poaching of ivory and the slaughter of animals. John Savage appears as an ex-Vietnam Green Beret who was brought up in Africa and who wants to work in collaboration with the government and the tribes in detecting the poachers and exploiters. Charlton Heston plays his father, a man who has grown up in Africa, an old-time hunter and guide now helping people on camera safaris. Maude Adams is the young woman who grew up in Africa, loved the son and is in a relationship with the father. John Rhys- Davies portrays, yet again, a villain in Africa.
The film relies on the authentic locations, the beauty of Africa, the close-ups of the animals - as well as the audience response to the preservation of the animals and the species.
1. Entertaining telemovie? African adventure? Family relationships? Conservation themes?
2. African locations and their beauty, action sequences? The stars? Musical score?
3. The title, the focus on Kenya, the relationships, Africa and the safaris?
4. Rick, growing up in Africa, the resentment towards his father, love for his mother, her death and burial - and his father late? His Vietnam experience and skills? The tension in his relationship with Anne and her moving to Lee? His work for the government, surveillance, detecting the poachers? The clashes with his father - the hotel? The flight, grounded, relying on his father's help? Going to the tribes? Ultimately collaborating with his father, going out against the poachers? His father being shot, the reconciliation? His future?
5. Charlton Heston as Lee - the sturdy hunter, the memories of the past, separation from his wife, the resentment of his son? His relationship with Anne? Exasperated in the traffic and late for the funeral? In the hotel with his assistant building up the atmosphere with clients? The couple out on safari, the woman with her sexual advances - and his judicious resistance? The older couple? Showing them the beauty of the animals? His severity with his assistant and making demands on him? the number of Lee continued: his clash with his son, helping him with the plane crash, debating about the vehicles, and persuading him to go with Rick, seeing them together? Confrontations, !he shootouts, the clash with his assistant? Wounded, death?
6. Ann, brought up in Africa, attraction towards Rick and her telling the story to Lee? Break with him, Rick coming to her house in the early morning, their kissing? The relationship with Lee? Lee's death?
7. The assistant, his relationship with the Africans, his anger at Lee, the appeal to get the safari? the people in the ivory trade, the deals, the violent shooting, his stabbing Lee, his being taken into custody?
8. The various poaches both African and white? His being taken to the tribe for justice and tied up? The films comment on the destruction of species?
9. The glimpse of people on safari, the American couple and her sexual advances to Lee (and the spoof of these)? The elderly couple?
10. Popular entertainment but with underlying messages for the broad audience?
