SHE FOUGHT ALONE

US, 1995, 95 minutes, Colour.
Isabella Hoffman.
Directed by Christopher Leitch.

She Fought Alone is designed for late teenage and young adult audiences, played in a rather soap opera style. It is a moral tale, focusing on a young woman who wants to be part of the crowd, who is strong-minded in herself, but wants to be accepted. She is exploited by the group and ultimately raped by the football star. It is over to her to make decisions, especially when she is persecuted by the fellow students at school, as well as their persecution being countenanced by some of the staff. Her single mother, remembering her own experience as a teenager, is suspicious but then supportive. The film highlights some of the legislation against sexual harassment, and especially for student protection at school. While the film is in many ways predictable, it is obviously a message film for its audience, especially girls who are victim of rape.

1. A telemovie for teenagers and adults? Themes, treatment, message, warning, encouragement to action? The title?

2. The small Illinois town, the homes, streets, cinemas, school, football stadiums? Musical score?

3. Audiences identifying with the youngsters at school? The fast crowd at high school? The Crew and individuals wanting to be members of this elite group? The initiation, the belle of the ball, the imitation of the paint on Carrie? The good humour? Relationships, the football stars and the girls following them? Caitlin and her relationship with Ethan? On the night of the initiation? The tentative nature of their relationship? Caitlin's intensity, Ethan and his ambitions to leave the town?

4. Life in the town, the closing of the cinema, the last picture show? The final night, Caitlin and propositioned by Jase, seeing Ethan with another girl, her strong stand? Ethan apologising? Jase and his being rejected, coming over to the house, infiltrating, making concessions from Caitlin, her sister overhearing, the rape?

5. The aftermath and her mother's disbelief? Her not going to school? Her sister's support of her? Going to the police and the examination, her mother's change of heart? Her word against Jase's? The truth?

6. Jase and his stories, Ethan believing them? The graffiti on the school wall, the toilets? The snubbing, names? The principal and her countenancing these - and her support of the football team?

7. Caitlin's mother and her going to the staff, the threats, the law about sexual harassment and protection of students? Writing to Washington, the official coming, interview with Caitlin and her mother, being snubbed in the cafe?

8. Jase and his phone calls, being taped? Out hunting with Ethan, telling him the truth? Ethan's change of heart, trying to apologise to Caitlin, supporting her? The girlfriend deceiving Caitlin and taking her for the humiliation and the cutting of her hair?

9. The testimony, Jase and his trying to put on a good front? Ethan telling the truth? The aftermath, Ethan staying with his mother, his car (and Jase having sprayed "Traitor" on it)? Caitlin and the possibility of leaving, going to college?

10. The collage during the credit sequence and the final credits? A portrait of a small American town in the '90s? Ethical stances, moral stances, personal stances? The importance of the rights of the individual?