REDHEADS

Australia, 1993, 102 minutes, Colour.
Catherine Mc Clements, Claudia Karvan.
Directed by Danny Vendremini.

Redheads is a Queensland thriller directed by Daniel Vendremini. It is a star vehicle for Claudia Karvan as a former convict caught up in crime and murder. Catherine Mc Clements is the police officer.

The film had only limited release and went straight to video. It is fairly routine material - but presented with a distinctive visual sight and sound and strong performances.

1. Interesting and entertaining Australian drama? Thriller? social comment?

2. The Australian atmosphere, Queensland, the city, the warehouse, the homes? The borstal? The contrasting worlds? Visual style, video style? The musical score? Song?

3. The title, the flames and the women? Redhead matches? Lucy (Lucifer) and matches? Fire and arson?

4. A portrait of women, in their various cultures, victims, success?

5. Claudia Carven as Lucy? The warehouse, stealing the video, the escape? Her life? Father and advice? The barrister? Religion, sexuality? The video? The impact of the death? Escape, silence? Home - and the boss, the woman, the lawyers? Diana and the clash? Lucy with the girls? The coat leading to the death? The court, the house and the checking? Hiding? The bond? The danger and the fire? The phone call? The tapes, the experience of detention and the effect on her? Going back to the centre?

6. The detail of life in detention, the various types of women, the bonds, hostilities, the authorities? Characters/caricatures?

7. Diana, smart, ambitious, her Italian background? Her parents? Her interest in her job? Legal Aid? Trainee? Simon - and the supervision? Her being used? The dinner? The offer and corruption? The encounter with Lucy, the court, angers? The search, the police, the warehouse, the danger? The fire? Not being believed? As a woman in her position? As a woman understanding and helping Lucy?

8. The assassin, the dangers, pursuits, Diana's flat, use Diana for the escape, the search for the video?

9. The police and corruption, deals, stealing? The lawyers, corrupt? The company, the head and the quiet?

10. Simon and the police? The law and his relationship? Sex and religion?

11. Diana and the television show? Contribution to the drama?

12. The head and the institution, the rules, permits, television?

13. Diana and the heroics? Lucy and the danger? The assistant and envy, murder? The dramatic ending? The picture of corruption and violence? Mystery thriller? Women and relationships?