SHAME

Australia, 1988, 94 minutes, Colour.
Deborra Lee Furness, Tony Barry, Simone Buchanan, Gillian Jones.
Directed by Steve Jodrell.

Shame is an arresting film, focusing on a small town in Western Australia. The name resembles Shane. In fact, the screenplay is paralleled with the western where the silent, black-dressed stranger rides into town, encounters the difficulties of the community, helps to resolve them and leaves again. However, this time it is Deborra- Lee Furness as a barrister who rides into the town, encounters a gang-rape victim, offers sympathy and understanding, attracts the women of the town and finally confronts the group of young men (who are egged on by the fathers and protected by their mothers). It is a picture of ugly Australia, a film showing honestly aspects of Australian life, especially the clashes between men and women and masculine aggression towards women.

The film is well-directed by Steve Jodrell (Bucks' Party, Tudawali). The cast is also excellent with Tony Barry as the weak father, Simone Buchanan as the victim, Gillian Jones as the girlfriend. The character actors in the supporting roles are all very persuasive.

The film also resembles those American movies of the south, with the powerful sheriff, the powerful families and the young men getting away scot-free. While the end of this film is tragic, a blow has been struck for justice and equality.

The film was remade from the original script for an American telemovie with Amanda Donohoe and Dean Stockwell.

1. The impact of the film? The Australian town? Relationships between men and women? Justice?

2. The Australian landscapes, the portrait and detail of the town, the life in the town? Musical score, piano themes?
3. The title, Lizzie's reference to her own shame? In relationship to the men of the town? The town itself?

4. The universality of the themes, characterisations? The emotional response to the characters and themes? Men and women? Australian perspectives but universal understanding?

5. The parallel with westerns? Shane? The towns of American films like In The Heat of the Night?

6. The introduction to Asta: dressed in black, on her bike riding the roads, masked? The accident? The mystery rider riding into the town?

7. Asta: in herself, the background of her work and revealing this, her relationships and her boyfriend, being alone on a holiday, the bike as a gift? The accident, contact with the police, experience in the bar, the men, the boys attacking her as butch? Her quick answers to them? Meeting Tim Curtis, the fixing of the bike? Staying at his place, the grandmother and her surliness? Seeing Tina and Lizzie and puzzling? Work on the bike, Gary and his remarks? On the bicycle, flat tyre, the encounter with Ross, the fight with the boys? Going into town, clash with Danny and his smooth style? Going to the factory, listening to the difficulties, punching Andrew? Talking with Tina, walking, Tina opening up to her? Going to the railway station for the bike parts, the boys attacking her, the fight? Going to the police, charges and no charges?

8. Her staying in the town, befriending the grandmother, agreeing to stay to mind Lizzie, talking, the swim, the sensitivities of the two women, believing her, sharing experiences? The shopping and the gossip? Tim and his finally believing Lizzie? The boys and their ugly manner and talk? The decision to make charges? Preparing Lizzie for the police station? Going, the boys out on bail? Andrew's mother and her bribing? The restraining order?

9. The good relationship, talking together at the home, the beginning of the siege, the attack? Her training Lizzie to fight back? Taking her to the police? Tim and the battering? The abduction of the grandmother? The boys and their arrest? Her hitting Danny, forcing the truth from him? Her grief?

10. The screenplay's presentation of Asta as a woman, her strength, sure of herself, physical fighting, handing this on to Lizzie, her ability to cope, knowledge of the law, verbal skills, strong presence? Presuming equality?

11. Lizzie and her sadness, going home, treatment by her grandmother and Tina? Tim not believing her, her being sad and hurt? Walking to the station and her fear? Her memories of the six, her love for Andrew, believing his promises, the brutality of the rape? With Asta, the swimming, opening up, her joy? Helping her father? Going shopping, the women gossipping? Reconciliation with her father? The decision to make charges? Asta's training, supporting her? The factory owner and her bribes? Going to the police station, the girlfriend leaving and not supporting her? The siege, at the station, waiting, the abduction, the attack in the car, her death?

12. Tim, his marriage, his wife leaving him, his being seen as weak? His work, Gary, interactions, sacking him? His love for Tina but not believing her? The meeting with Asta, his being changed by her? Relationship with his mother? Avoiding Tina, going out? The reconciliation, his sorrow? Going to the pub, the fight? The woman and her bribery, the charges? The siege and his being battered?

13. Tina, her relationship to Tim, support for Lizzie, at work, Asta's punch and her reaction, talking with her, opening up, the support? Her relationship with Tim and his avoiding issues? Her being in at the end, the fight, her grief?

14. The tough grandmother, relationship with her son, care for Lizzie? Working at the factory, needing her job? At home, the siege, the driving away, audience response to her being brutalised at the bridge?

15. The sketch of the boys, their fathers? As individuals, as a group? The past? Their prospects? Hanging around the town, macho attitudes, brutal, sexual? Their mothers denying what happened? Their fathers egging them on in the bar? The gang, vicious? Rape? Going to the dance, their being rejected by the girls? Their pursuit of Lizzie, pursuit of Asta? Jokes, fighting Ross? Relationship with his wife? On the bike with Asta - and falling off? Their angers, the arrest, passing around the hat? Her father's support, the final vengeance and the attack, the brutality, Danny and Andrew abducting Lizzie, their brutality and anger? The need for justice?

16. The police chief, easy style, lack of interest, masculine presuppositions? Patronising to Asta? The arrest, warning Tim not to fight? Trying to do his duty? His young assistant? His asking Asta at the end whether she was satisfied?

17. The matriarch of the town, the factory, her power, Andrew following close behind her? The smooth talk and offering holidays, clothes and bribes? Her getting the boys out on bail? Asta's confrontation?

18. The women of the town, working in the factory, talk, mothers avoiding blame for their sons? The mother who found out the truth and slapped her son? The humour, the talk about sex, banding together? Penny Ross thankful to Asta? The girls, the girls following the boys at the dance, the others ignoring them? Lorna and her wanting to testify, her refusal?

19. Ross and his wife, the fight with the boys, the reputation of his wife, his supporting Tim? Her thanks to Asta?

20. The drama of the finale? Its brutality, pessimism, grief? The cry for justice?

21. Themes of males and females, in the Australian town, presuppositions, aggression and rape, human nature, justice?