FULL CIRCLE

UK, Canada, 1976, Colour, 97 Minutes.
Mia Farrow, Keir Dullea, Tom Conti, Jill Bennett.
Directed by Richard Loncraine.

Mia Farrow has the haunted, gaunt look for thrillers, especially of the occult (evocations of Rosemary's Baby and Blind Terror). This film relies heavily on this and a continual slow tracking style that creates a mildly tense atmosphere with some sudden gory eruptions. The plot is mystifying (somewhat occult to the understanding too) before full circles are complete (or are they?). Horror and fear are matters of moods and suggestions but the film benefits most from effective cameos from the supporting cast, giving the film greater strength. There are many thematic undertones of guilt, expiation, power and individuals possessed by others and by environments.

1. The thriller appeal of the film? Audience response to thrillers, the occult, horror?

2. The technical quality of the film: colour photography, wide screen, the continually slow tracking camera? The creation of atmosphere: London, the house, the streets, the present and the past? Sanity and madness? The musical accompaniment?

3. How plausible was the plot? The communication of psyche? Psychology, the occult, the presence of destructive evil?

4. The significance of the title? Its reference to Julia's story, the death of Olivia and the death of her daughter? The full circle of guilt and revenge? The seance and people communicating with the dead in a full circle?

5. The atmosphere of the opening, Julia behind the curtains during the credits, the focus on the house, on Julia herself, the happiness of the family, the conventional breakfast sequence, the daughter and her gobbling her food, an atmosphere of happiness?

6. The sudden transition to the choking and its impact? The desperation of the parents, the horror of the girl suddenly dying? The need for the doctor, Julia's decision to cut the girl's throat? Audience reaction to this? The revelation of the blood? The questions that his raised for the rest of the film?

7. The aftermath with Julia in hospital, Magnus coming, her eluding him, buying a new home, setting it up in all its detail for herself? Julia's independence and her need for it? The atmosphere of the house? Magnus and his non-comprehension, following her, bullying her?

8. How well portrayed was the character of Magnus? A credible character, the gulf between himself and his wife, persuading his sister to intervene? Haunting the house, trying to persuade her to change her mind? The build-up to his death and its violence?

9. The contrast with Julia's friend and his pleasant helping, conversation, driving her about, helping her decorate? His work? His offer to accompany her to the Old People's Home? The sudden ugliness of his death? To what purpose?

10. The importance of the seance and its atmosphere, in Julia's house, links with the past, the character of Mrs. Flood and her genial old-fashioned Englishwoman? The people at the seance? The participation, the fear? Julia taking Mrs. Flood how, visiting her again to find out the truth? The news of the dead boy? The repercussions for her?

11. Julia's going to the British Museum, discovering the story, searching out Mrs. Braden, hearing the story and meeting her companion? The story of the death, the war, the Germans, the guilt of the death? The presence of Olivia and the story about Olivia? Olivia's revenge?

12. Julia's visit to the two victims and her trying to learn the truth? The alcoholic and his story about Olivia leading them, persuading them to kill and do anything she wished? The description of the little boy's death and its horror? This being confirmed by Julia's visit to Olivia's mother? Her madness, her telling the truth, the revelation that she killed her daughter, her death? The death of the two men?

13. The effect of the news and the story of Julia on Julia? Her wanting to be in contact with Olivia? The fact of Olivia's final appearing? Julia's motherliness in the chair, the circling camera and Julia's embracing Olivia, the sudden revelation that Julia had been killed violently? The final image and the final credits? What was the audience left with?

14. Mia Farrow's portrayal of Julia? Her character, sanity and madness, the effect of her daughter's death, being overpowered by the house, revulsion for her husband, reliance on her friend, relentless perusal of the story? Her need for a daughter and her wanting Olivia? Could the audience identify wi th her? ,

15. How conventional the presentation of the material? How special? Shocks, violent images? How disturbing?