WE'RE FIGHTING BACK

US, 1981, 93 minutes, Colour.
Paul Mc Crane, Ellen Barkin, Joe Morton, Phylicia Rashid.
Directed by Lou Antonio.

We're Fighting Back is a telemovie with good intentions. It focuses on the true story of the 'Guardian Angels', a group of New York youth who rode the subway to prevent crime in non-violent ways. The original leader of the Guardian Angels was Curtis Sliwa, here changed to Morgan Casey. The film takes up the themes of violence in the American city but does not treat them in the Death Wish fashion. There is much discussion about non-violence and keeping within the law, not letting personal vendetta take over as motivation.

The cast includes Paul Mc Crane,(Fame, Robo Cop) and Ellen Barkin in one of her earliest films.

1. The impact of this American telemovie, for an American audience, for an international audience? Issues of violence, fear, law and order?

2. The atmosphere of New York, the Bronx, the slums, the apartments, subway?

3. An authentic atmosphere: the slums and the collapse of the buildings, the gangs, the violence, crime, imposition of fear on old citizens, the impotence of the law, protest, the possibilities for vigilante action, the possibility for Guardian Angels action?

4. The title and the motto of the group, the forcefulness of the title? Its being taken up by the people of the Bronx?

5. The opening situation, the focus on Casey, his life, his father and the Navy, the bond between the two, the farewell, the attack and its effect on Casey? The visits to the hospital?

6. The group working in the burger joint? Casey, Preacher, Ben, Ling? Their friendship, going to school together, reaction to the mugging, the ineffectual attitudes of the police? Tony and the gangs, the clashes? Ben's parents and their concern about his drug addiction, going on the streets again? Their working together, going in their burger uniforms, on the train, the clash with Tony and the gang, their failure, Casey's fall, the hospital?

7. The group itself, the motivation for starting, protecting people, the fights, the effect? Preacher and his clash with Casey about vendettas and hatred? His separation from the group? His later being bashed?

8. The other groups joining, Casey's speech, the recruiting methods, the lawyer and his listening in, caution about vigilantes, Jonas and his Hungarian background and speech, Chris as a girl in the group, her tough attitudes? Their training, the caution about keeping within the law, seeing them on duty, their uniforms, helping people, people's reaction in favour?

9. The clash on the train, the arrest, Casey being arrested, in the cell next to Tony and the gang, the bail (and their trashing his apartment and stealing his money)? His father leaving, the confrontation after the dance, the group surrounding the Angels, the ordinary citizens and coming to help them? Citizens' arrests?

10. Themes of action within the law rather than vigilante vendettas, knowing the law and administering it? Protecting citizens?