THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

US, 1991, 118 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald, Diane Baker, Roger Corman, Kasi Lemmons.
Directed by Jonathan Demme.

The Silence of the Lambs is a powerful film written by Ted Tally (White Palace, The Father George Clements Story) based on the bestseller by Thomas Harris. (Harris also wrote Red Dragon, which was the basis for Michael Mann's film Manhunter which included the character of the murderous psychiatrist Dr Hannibal Lecter.)

The film is an FBI investigation of serial killings. The agency, its department of behavioural sciences, wants to enlist the psychological insights of Dr Lecter. A young recruit agent, Clarice Starling, is asked to interview Dr Lecter. She gets his help - but he demands that he treat her as a psychiatrist. The investigation continues, Dr Lecter is used by doctors and politicians for the rescue of a senator's daughter. Agent Starling eventually confronts the serial killer.

The audience identifies with the FBI agent. However, the subject-matter, insanity as well as the macabre murders, make this an unnerving experience. The direction by Jonathan Demme (Married to the Mob, Something Wild) is strong and effective.

Jodie Foster is excellent as Clarice Starling. Anthony Hopkins is superbly sinister as Dr Hannibal Lecter. Scott Glenn is the FBI superior. There is an excellent supporting cast. A powerful film - but not for the faint-hearted.

Oscars for Best Film, Director, Actor, Actress, Adapted Screenplay.

1. The acclaim for the film? Controversy? Its dramatic impact? Box-office success?

2. The American feel of the film, locations? FBI agencies, prisons? The Mid-West? towns? Authentic atmosphere? The importance of editing, pace, sense of menace? The creation of fear in the audience? The musical score?

3. The title, Clarice's imagery in the story about her growing up? Lecter's use of the imagery of the lambs?

4. The subject-matter of the film, serial killings, brutality, sexual violence, insanity? Audience understanding? Coping? Intellectual coping, emotional? The effect of seeing the film? Salutary? Dangerous?

5. The audience entering the film with Clarice? The feminine perspective? The credits and her tough training? The interview with Crawford? The plans for her seeing Dr Lecter, the task assigned, her not being told the truth? The encounter and clash with Dr Chilton? The strong warnings about meeting Dr Lecter? Barney and his advice as she went into the prison? The violent sexual abuse by Miggs and the other prisoners? Atmosphere of tension, fear? Meeting Dr Lecter, his control, the interactions, her fears, getting out? The importance of the memories of her childhood, her father, the funeral, the report? The absence of her father, its effect on her? Dr Lecter's attempt at therapy? Interviews with Crawford, the true nature of the mission? The deal with Dr Lecter, the quid pro quo and its effect? What did Clarice learn from this experience with Dr Lecter?

6. Clarice and her work, behavioural interests? Interaction with Crawford and his admiration for her? The truth about the interviews? Her training, research? The mistakes she made with Dr Lecter? His clues? Victims, the importance of the autopsy sequence and the gruesome detail? Her involvement? Being helped? The discovery of the body, the goods? The report? Adelia and her support?

7. Clarice working with the information? The encounter with Dr Lecter after he had been moved? Discussions with Crawford? Her further inquiries, the town, the realisation of the truth? The room, the dress? The information from the killer's friend? Going to the house, the discussion with him, her realisation of the truth, her toughing it out, his stalking her? Her discovering Katharine Martin, her panic? Being stalked by Buffalo Bill with the green ray? The confrontation, the shooting? Her achievement in working on Dr Lecter's information, getting the serial killer? Her own growth?

8. The graduation, her achievement, her personal ambitions, behavioural career, personal effect? The effect of the phone call of congratulations from Dr Lecter?

9. Crawford, his role in the FBI, in charge, his admiration for Clarice, his style, discussions, plans? The information given, the truth for Clarice's work? The interviews, cajoling her? His own investigations, the autopsy, the raids? Realisation of the truth? Coming in in support?

10. The work of the FBI, skills in investigation, the work of the local police, FBI relating to the local police, the build-up and staging of raids? The political background? The influence of Senator Martin and her search for her daughter?

11. The sketch of Dr Chilton, his smugness and his administration of his hospital, attitude towards the prisoners? His come-on towards Clarice and her rejection? His listening in to the interviews and using the information? Contacting the senator, the deal? The transference of Dr Lecter? The end - and the macabre joke as Dr Lecter went to pursue Dr Chilton?

12. Dr Lecter, Anthony Hopkins' screen presence, sinister performance, control? Sense of menace? Dr Lecter's reputation, as a psychiatrist? As a serial killer? Cannibal? The audience seeing him with Clarice's eyes? The interview, the eight years in the cell? His drawings and their significance? The use of the light? The nature of his madness? His psychiatric techniques with Clarice? Intonations, giving clues, the interplay with her? The documents? Clarice's other visits? The probing, the quid pro quo and his skill as a doctor? The importance of the storage clue, playing word games, the death eight years earlier? His knowing the identity of Buffalo Bill? The deal, his longing to get out? Continued clues? Chilton taking him away, his being straitjacketed and masked? Transferred interstate? His angers, confrontation with Crawford, confrontation with the senator and his menace and abuse of her? His being caged? His shrewdness with the pen, killing the guards and getting out, the elevator shaft, his pretence, the murders in the ambulance? The final phone call of congratulations? The macabre and bizarre humour of the ending?

13. The Buffalo Bill murders, the media reports, the FBI information? Audience response? The nature of the victims, the range of victims, the clues? His routines? Psychological behaviour, transsexuality, gender identification? His envy and coveting the women? Kidnapping them, the torture? The well and his keeping his victims prisoners? His stalking of Katharine Martin, the encounter with her, taking her away? The irony of the dog and his feelings - and her reactions? The making of the dress? The killing and his plan? The explicit sexual behaviour scenes and his gender confusion? The encounter with Clarice, playing games, stalking her with the green light? His death?

14. Katharine Martin, ordinary person, on the road, kind, the encounter with Buffalo Bill, his taking her, imprisoning her, her desperation, fear and rescue? Her senator mother, demands made on the FBI, with Dr Chilton, with Dr Lecter and her anger at him? The media?

15. The reality of serial killings, psychological dysfunctioning, the role of investigative agencies, the FBI and the police, the media? This kind of film as a means of informing and enlightening the public, intellectually, emotionally?