NIGHT OUT

Australia, 1990, 56 minutes, Black and white.
Andrew Larkins, John Brumpton, Colin Batrouney, David Bonney, Luke Elliot.
Directed by Lawrence Johnston.

Night Out was written and directed by Lawrence Johnston for Swinburne Institute. It is a brief portrait of a homosexual relationship, Steve and his birthday party, his love for Tony, his travelling interstate, Tony and his drinking in loneliness, picking up someone on the beat, being bashed and his credit cards stolen, hospitalisation, not telling the truth to Steve who nevertheless discovers it, the tension between them, Tony and his declaration, Steve and his needing time for the relationship to be restored.

The film is shot in black and white, generally at night and suggesting darkness and shadows. It presents the characters from a sympathetic point of view, especially with the brutality of the `poofter-bashing'. The film is the equivalent of a short story and relies on the audience being sympathetic to the actors and their interpretation of the characters, long close-ups on the characters to identify with their thoughts and feelings.

Johnston went on to make the award-winning portrait of Arthur Stace, the man who wrote `eternity' on Sydney footpaths over 500,000 times, Eternity.

1. A human drama, homosexual perspective? Relationships? The attitude of society as symbolised by bashings?

2. Black and white photography, light and shadow, darkness? Interiors and exteriors? The night lights of the city? Melbourne? Musical score, final song?

3. The title and its ironies for Tony?

4. The city landscapes, the isolation of the gay community in the city, the visit to the airport, the bar, the changing sheds and the beach, the streets?

5. The relationship between Tony and Steve, Steve's birthday and the celebrations, the cake? Declaration of love? Steve's flight, Tony's reluctance, loneliness, going to the noisy bar, the drink? Wandering near the sheds, cruising, the young man, their sexual encounter?

6. The bashers and their car, talking with one another, style? The decision to go poofter-bashing? The young man running to the beach, Tony caught, the brutality of the bashing, his Bankcard? Tortured and refusing to give the PIN number? No money in the bank? His being thrown out on the footpath?

7. Tony in hospital, the disfigurement? Talking to his friend, asking Steve to return, deciding whether to tell him the truth or not? Steve's return, the elaborate story about his going to the shop and being bashed? Refusing to see the police? Their night together, Steve seeing the mark, the argument and tension? The difficulty for reconciliation?

8. Tony and his declaration, in the house - his thoughts, future?

9. Steve, less physical than Tony, his reaction to the truth? The young man coming to the door to return the wallet? His taking his bike, revisiting the scene?

10. Human drama? Plea for understanding and sympathy?