THE GIRL WHO SPELLED FREEDOM
US, 1986, 90 minutes, Colour.
Wayne Rogers, Mary Kay Place, Kieu Chinh.
Directed by Simon Wincer.
The Girl who spelt Freedom is an attractive Disney telemovie, moving with sentiment but with an edge because of the conflict in South East Asia. It shows a Cambodian family in 1979, the dangers, escape to a camp in Thailand, their being sent to Tennessee to a Southern family. The film shows the compassion of the American family - though their inexperience in communicating with such a refugee family. However, with effort, the families come to understand and appreciate one another. The film focuses on one of the children, rather relentless in her perfectionism and wanting to achieve, who has the opportunity to become one of the champion spellers of the State of Tennessee. The film is based on a true story - and is an engaging blend of realism and sentiment. Wayne Rogers and Mary Kay Place are the American parents. The film was directed by Australian Simon Wincer (Harlequin, Phar Lap, The Light Horsemen - as well as American films and mini-series D*A*R*Y*L and Lonesome Dove, for which he won an Emmy as best director).
1. Entertaining telemovie? Disney studios and perspective? For family audiences?
2. The title, South East Asia and the war, refugees, finding a future in the US? Freedom?
3. The opening in Cambodia, the war in South East Asia, the dangers, the refugees under fire? The Thai camps? The contrast with Tennessee?
4. The refugees and their experience, shellings, fire, danger, the camps, and lack of food, scavenging for food, giving the soldiers a ring? Freedom, going to the US bewilderment, illness, strange circumstances, language, fears, customs?
5. The family adjusting to Tennessee, the rooms, toilets, their storing the food? Their memories - the school and the wire? The gradual adjustment, learning the language, learning to trust? Moving into their own home? The desperate phone calls to George and Chrissie? The storm, people helping? The seemingly hostile family offering to take the Cambodians to the picnic?
6. George and Chrissie, affluent, business? The church background? Information on the refugees, the officer from the refugee agency? Preparation for the family? Laura and her accepting it? The wait at the airport, finding the family, initial awkwardness? Communication and lack of communication? Difficulties with the food, the rooms, toilet etc?
7. The experience of frustration, the families fears? Learning, the fridge etc? The growing bonds, learning to communicate, Linn and her leading the way? Laura and her reaction and feeling rejected? George absent on business? Chrissie and the frustrations, the phone calls? Taking the mother shopping, the supermarket, going to the doctor and the boy with T.M.? The park and the flowers, the sudden fear with the crucifix and the memory of soldiers and torture?
8. The children going to school, initial fears, learning, spelling? Linn and her perfectionism, her being upset when not asked to do things? Getting 9 out of 10? The passing of time? The prizes?
9. Linn and her excellence, reading, spelling, the competition, her nightmares, working with the teacher?
10. the competition, the initial, her poise, winning? The teacher with the wrong spelling? George and Chrissie and their support, seeing a reward for their generosity? Their neighbours? The Cambodian mother and the children, pride, achievement?
11. Themes of generosity, inter-racial friendship, hope and freedom in the US as a right for all?
