A FATHER'S REVENGE

US, 1988, 93 minutes, Colour.
Brian Dennehy, Ron Silver, Anthony Valentine, Joanna Cassidy.
Directed by John Herzfeld.

A Father's Revenge is a telemovie on the serious 80s topic of terrorism, attacks on American citizens, the incapacity of law and order to control terrorism. It is also in the Death Wish vein, a father upset with the kidnapping and torture of his daughter seeking revenge. While the themes are serious, the treatment is adapted to the wide home audience watching television rather than the over the top presentations of such vengeance films for cinemas.

Brian Dennehy is, as always, a particularly strong presence as the sports coach father who has to confront the kidnapping of his daughter. There is a very strong supporting cast which lift this film above the average while leaving its audiences in doubt as regards as they would handle a similar situation, with anger and vengeance, or relying more on official support and the administration of law and order.

1. The impact of this telemovie? The real situations of the 80s? Terrorism, Americans as targets of terrorism? Government, police, secret agencies?

2. The American and German settings giving an authentic atmosphere? The special effects and stunt work? The score?

3. The title, the impact on Paul, his concern about his daughter, the effect of the whole experience on him, his being transformed into a person like the terrorists? The ultimate irony?

4. Karen, in Germany, her relationship with her parents, her hopes, life in Germany, friends, the experience of the kidnapping? The treatment and the torture? The making of the video - and her presenting herself, the words used, communication? The prison? The television treatment of the incident, and showing her father and his vengeance? The effect on her and her captors? The rescue, the shooting? The finale - to be shot? What happened to her by the ending of the film? The transforming experience of the kidnapping? Of her father's behaviour?

5. Paul and his wife, ordinary American citizens, his coaching work, jogging, hearing the news, the desperate phone calls, the contact with Max, the decision to go to Germany? Officialdom, Patterson and the smooth talking and the lies? The contacts with Max? Vickers and his card - and whether he was to be believed? Paul and his wife in Germany, the tension, the anxiety, the media interviews, husband and wife clashing as to how to act best? The significance of the television interview and his strong stance? Vickers and his deal? The research? The torture, intervening, phoning his wife? Paul going underground with Vickers, the underside of the world of terrorism? The leads, the woman and the drowning, Paul following, the attack, the shooting of Albert, his having committed himself to parallel terrorist-activity, what was he left with in the end? The father confronting his daughter?

6. Paul's wife, ordinary life, love for the daughter, the confusion of the news, going to Germany, not understanding her husband, their clash, her decision to betray what he had done? The possibilities for reconciliation?

7. Journalists, contacts, Max and his ambitions, his continued help, self-seeking?

8. Vickers and the counter terrorist groups, his card, his cold and matter of fact way of dealing, contacting Paul, the deal, the torture, the faking? His connections, Albert, Marthe, Ingrid? The terrorists and their stances? Infiltration? The pursuit? The men and the ammunition? The end of the connections?

9. Patterson, the role of government, officials, government talk and cover-up? Behind the scenes?

10. European terrorists, their causes, the personalities of terrorists? Wolfgang and the cause, brutality, ability to kill? Marthe and her relationship with the girl? Albert? The personalities of the terrorists, working as a group, the kidnapping, motives, torture, the making of the video, the attack, fighting for their lives?

11. Themes of terrorism in the late 20th century? The possibility of dialogue with terrorists? Their causes, justification for stances, ideologies? Violence in terrorism? The role of government agencies? The press? Secret agencies? Ordinary citizens caught up, emotions tested, capacity for violence revealed? The repercussions on victims, on family and relationships?