SHORT CHANGED

Australia, 1986, 104 minutes, Colour.
David Kennedy, Susan Leith, Jamie Agius, Ray Meagher, Mark Little.
Directed by George Ogilvy.

1. The impact of the film as a drama? Australia? Contemporary? A story of the 1980s? Aboriginal society, white society? The Stolen Generation? Adoption, custody? Family? Race issues?

2. The atmosphere of the city, the contrast between the poor and the wealthy? College, the zoo, the sequences in Sydney? The contrast with the countryside? The musical score?

3. The title, its reference to each of the characters, short changed in life, in fulfilment of hopes?

4. The 1970s, Stuart, the funeral, the relations, protests and rights, the clash and the separation?

5. Stuart and the seven years passing, going downhill? His friendship with Curly? Hearing about the father and son, his decision to go, travelling? The nature of his quest? Going to the school, with Marshall, the drink and carrying on? His prospects?

6. The contrast with Alison, her decision? Her home, her father and his severity? Her custody of Tommy, sending him to school? Life hard for Tommy, Alison’s attitude and behaviour? The Catholic background, his going to the teaching brothers? The quality of his education? His fears? Tommy, the other children, drunken father?

7. Stuart going to Legal Aid, the officials, the advice? The Sri Lankan background? His anger, his relationship with the family, going to court, the hearing, his rights? The judge and the explanation of issues, the judgment and its appropriateness?

8. Marshall, the pressure, money? Sending Alison and Tommy away? The issues of the Family Court? Alison, the challenge to her life, her relationship with Stuart, Tommy, the break from her father?

9. The character of Tommy, the picture of Tommy as a little child? Growing up? His feelings, love for his mother, being with his father? His hostility? Attitude towards Curly? His change of attitude, the experience of the flat and the prejudice? To the zoo? At camp? His delight, learning, listening to the Aboriginal stories? His return to Sydney, his grandfather, his father?

10. Stuart and his having to cope, getting clean, housekeeping? The drinking, the night and the hostilities? Meeting Curly? At the zoo? The bonding?

11. Curly, his character, drinking, Stuart and the dependence? The flat, the old people in the park, help?

12. The issues of race? In retrospect? Australian Aboriginal history? The Stolen Generation? Black and white marriages? Sentiment, family issues? Audiences identifying with the white characters, the black characters? Communication and response – and the appeal for empathy?