SHOW OF FORCE
US, 1990, 93 minutes, Colour.
Amy Irving, Robert Duvall, Andy Garcia, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kevin Spacey, Joe Campanella, Erik Estrada.
Directed by Bruno Barretto.
Show of Force takes us back to Central America in 1978. However, unlike films like Under Fire with Nicaragua that year, we are taken into Puerto Rico, the stances for independence as well as those for becoming the 51st state of the United States.
The film was directed by Brazilian Bruno Barretto, best known for his sex comedies like Dona Flor and Two Husbands with Sonia Braga. Here he presents a fairly straightforward account of the media, a political ambush and murder and the subsequent senatorial inquiry. He presents characters and incidents directly and leaves the audience to follow the plot, identify with the characters, assess the issues.
Amy Irving is quite strong as the television reporter. Robert Duvall enjoys himself as the head of the television station. Lou Diamond Phillips is quite effective as the Right- Wing plant in a Left- Wing group. Andy Garcia appears only at the end of the film, quite bearded and somewhat unrecognisable, as the prosecuting lawyer. Amongst the supporting cast is Priscilla Pointer as Amy Irving's mother (her mother in real life).
The film, from the perspective of 1990 and some of the resolution of tensions in Central America, is interesting as being critical of the role of the United States and, particularly, the FBI.
1. The Puerto Rican setting, the stances for independence, the stances for belonging to the United States? A '90s perspective on 1978? The role of the American government, the FBI and its influence?
2. Puerto Rican settings, the Caribbean atmosphere, the city, festival, homes, the courts, the television world? The musical score?
3. The importance of the media, television reporting, information, influence, morale-boosting, influence for elections and political control? The control of the media, editing out material, counterpointing sequences to make cases? The case for freedom of the media?
4. The title, the FBI and its show of force for the Puerto Ricans? The American attitude towards such shows of force? Terrorists, violence, staged ambushes? The show of force from Kate with the final television interview?
5. Kate, her American background, the widow of the Left-Wing? lawyer and his strong reputation? Her children and her coping with them? The family sequences, her birthday? Her father getting her from jail and his staunch American background? Disapproval of her husband? Her mother and her strong stances?
6. Kate as the television reporter, her push, filming the governor, the atmosphere of the Fourth of July, her alert to the crisis? Hurrying to the tower, seeing the bodies, interviewing the police? Her work with Howard, the taking out of the FBI man from the television frames? Her meeting Frank and learning about the FBI? Her pursuit of the case, the father of the dead man, the widow? The harrowing experience of these interviews? The refusal of the taxi driver? The blind man and his explanations - and the taxi man coming forward again? The support from Howard? Her contacting the students, the arranging of the interview, getting of the information, the sudden eruption of the police, the murder in the fountain, her being taken? Her father getting her hour? The interview with Fuentes, his arrogant approach? Her birthday, the gift from Howard, the kidnapping, Fuentes taking her to the cockfighting arena, his brutality towards her? Her return home, her mother arguing for a strong stance? Her closing the inquiry? Her change of heart, Howard discussing things with her, firing her? The alternate television station, arranging for the televising of the inquiry, her introductions? Her presence, influence on the case?
7. Kate and the prosecutor, her giving him information? The FBI man and the finale, her interviewing him, turning the material on live - and her exposing the FBI?
8. The prologue with the governor, the celebration, election mode? His later interviews on the media? The brutality of the terrorists, his disowning the police? The senators - especially the Right-Wing? senator and his continued attacks during the inquiry?
9. The prologue and Fuentes arranging with the young men to get the taxi, the guns, his brutality towards the taxi driver? The news of their deaths - and the reconstruction by flashbacks? The father and his view of his son? The wife and her grief? Fuentes and his version? The blind man and the information about the time between shots? The taxi driver and the shooting of his car, his being bashed? The young man stating that he was not involved? The autopsy and the information about the torture, the cuts? The prosecutor revealing the photos in court? The expert and the information about the bullets? The soldier and his giving information to Kate for immunity? His fear of Frank? The question of who gave the orders (and the T-shirts highlighting the telling of the truth)? Frank giving the orders? The police and the shooting? The nature of the ambush, the motivation of the police, the FBI, America influencing elections?
10. Fuentes, his brutality, his having the guns, his motivation, infiltrating the group? His behaviour, his being injured? His brutality towards Kate? The interrogations in court? His declarations about his motivation?
11. The personalities of the two men, the brutality? Their stands for independence? Being turned into martyrs? The contrast with the point of view of the police, the police chief and his interrogating Kate?
12. Howard, the American television executive, his admiration for Kate, working with her, his friendship with the FBI? The gift for her birthday, the decision to fire her - to protect her? His admiration as he watched the final interview?
13. The prosecutor, his admiration for Kate's husband, his skills, the interrogation in the court, the interruptions by the senator?
14. Frank and the FBI, the presence in Puerto Rico, the motivation for setting up the ambush, his brutality and lives being expendable, his giving the orders to kill? The police, the killers?
15. The importance of the media and information given to the public? The moral issues of the final televising of the conversation between Kate and Frank? The importance of the '70s and '80s in exposes and the public knowing the truth?
