STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

Australia, 1990, 105 minutes, Colour.
Garry Mc Donald, Brian Vriends, Catherine Mc Clements.
Directed by Jerzy Domaradzki.

Struck By Lightning seems a strange title for a warmly human film about a physical educations teacher, the eccentric director of a home for Downs Syndrome adolescents and adults and the home's community. However, in the Middle Ages it was said that people with mental disabilities had been struck by lightning.

The film is both very funny and very sharp in some of its dialogue, expressing realistically how people feel and behave both sardonically and sentimentally. And it works - thanks to the perceptive writing of Trevor Farrant and director, Jerzy Domaradzki. Along with the film, they received Australian Film Institute Award nominations. In fact, the film did not win any. But there was a controversy in 1990 with Garry Mc Donald's not receiving a nomination while most people seemed to agree that he deserved to win. Mc Donald gives an excellent performance as Ollie Rennie, the manager of the institute. Brian Vriends is lively as the phys ed teacher (with an extraordinary capacity for almost perpetual grinning). Catherine Mc Clements is the social worker. Dennis Olson is the arrogantly affluent patron of the Lazarus Society for Downs Syndrome sufferers.

The film is interesting in its Australian context - but of universal appeal.

1. The film's acclaim? Impact? Serious and comic? Sympathy for Downs Syndrome people?

2. The South Australian settings, the city of Adelaide, the coast, the institution, city? Authentic? Musical score?

3. The title and the Medieval explanation? The symbol on the football jerseys?

4. Pat Cannizzaro and the kids at school, teaching them how to kick for soccer, the fat boy and giving him the sandshoes? Going to the tuck shop, upheaval and squelching all the artificial foods? The reaction of the ladies, the kids, the headmaster and Pat's clash with him, the arrest and his being taken away, the fat boy running? The reason for his protest - physical education being ruined by the food eaten? A prologue to the film?

5. Going to look for the job, going to the institution, `Independence' spelt wrongly over the gate? Talking with Ollie in the garden, going into the house, Ollie and his wig? Discussions, arguments, each testing the other out, expectations? Ollie and his cynical approach, tough, harsh, yet present to the community? His dreams? Pat and his enthusiasm, energy, hope for change - and potentially dangerous?

6. Audience response to Downs Syndrome men and women? Babies and the contrast with adolescents and adults? Their age, handling their disability? Spencer's comment about the joke, retarded but not stupid? The authentic Downs actors and actresses? Portraits of human nature? Kindness? Jodie and her refrain about loving Pat? Donald and his speech (learnt from having the pet budgerigar)? Noel and his carving, the monsters (himself), the horses, Pat's gift of the tools, support by his grandmother? Kevin and his exposing himself, the wanderer, kicking the ball strongly? Gail and her shyness, in love with Spencer? Spencer spending time with her, in love? The Magpie supporter in his jersey all the time? Pat meeting them, their liking him, gathering around him, cleaning the grounds, the exercise, flopping on the ground, learning about soccer, playing? The team and working together, Kevin's individualism and having to learn to play, the strong kicks and their effect on Pat? The games against the nurses, the elderly men, the prisoners? The tough prisoners and their reaction back? Mistakes? Ollie joining in the training - yet cynical? Kevin's father and his angers, watching the matches? Kevin as the wanderer? The build-up to the goal, Pat's prayer, his intervention, achieving the goal - and Kevin's father's exhilaration?

7. The community at work, their crafts, the horses, packing the rubber bands, sorting out the nuts?

8. Spencer and Gail and their love, Gail's mother and her story, lavishing attention on her daughter, hoping that she would be normal, the consequences for her life? Pat's advance to make a point and her anger? Arranging the night for Spencer and Gail to be together, their going upstairs, Gail being hurt, unprepared for the experience? The effect on her at her sewing machine, Pat talking with her? Ollie's separating Spencer?

9. The glimpse of the parents: Gail's mother and the consequences for her life with Gail's disability, Kevin's father and his anger, supporting him at the match, Noel's grandmother and her wisdom, advising Pat not to talk about the disabled as if they weren't there?

10. Garry McDonald's portrait of Ollie: trying, failing, drinking, in love with Jill but arguing with her, his comments about his hair, the sorting of the nuts and his using his sandshoe, at the sports training and his sardonic remarks, Spencer and Gail and his decision, going to the socials, the Lazarus Foundation, Barnaby and their drinking, toasting? Seeing Pat as dangerous? The TV producer and her intrusion, bringing in the actors, his turning on her and her wanting that to be filmed? The build-up to the Prime Minister's wife and her visit? His sense of failure, drinking, the crash? The clash with Pat? The board, the testimony by the community? The ending and his asking Pat to come back?

11. Pat and his continued smile, a good man, sports effectiveness, trying, his work, his counterbalance to Kevin's exposure? Selling his trophy to buy tools for Noel? At home, the Italian atmosphere, his mother watching Perfect Match and making comments on the virginity of the candidates? His brother and being retarded, giving him the gift of the horse? Watching him in his room, crying? Meeting Jill and the embarrassment, the clashes, telling her about her fear of the retarded? The relationship, affair? Wanting her to meet his parents, the visit, the argument about his brother, ousting her? Her watching the matches, Ollie being hurt, asking Pat for his help? The plan and the reconciliation? The social worker with theories, having to face reality?

12. Colin and his place on the staff, comedy, listening in, gawky, refereeing and as goalie?

13. The committee, socialites and their money, supporting children, separate fundraisers for adults? The talk about the knighthood? The social functions, putting money in for a trophy? Welcoming the Prime Minister's wife? Pat and the final confrontation of the board, telling them off?

14. The moving testimony of the Downs Syndrome people and their plea to have Ollie back? Gail and her summary of the kind of love that he had for them?

15. Portrait of people, dramatising of attitudes - and the points being made about those with disabilities?