A TIME TO KILL

US, 1996, 143 minutes, Colour
Matthew Mc Connaughey, Samuel L.Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey, Donald Sutherland, Keifer Sutherland, Brenda Fricker, Charles S. Dutton, Patrick Mc Goohan
Directed by Joel Schumacher

An adaptation of John Grisham's novel. It was directed by Joel Schumacher who brought The Client to the screen. The film blends courtroom drama with strong emotional response to racism and violence as well as social concern. However, what it seems to be saying, even despite some dialogue to the contrary, that revenge violence is all right. The issue is that it is understandable but is it all right?

A difficulty with the discussion about violence in the media these days is that it often focusses on the action spectacles and their special effects - movies that are not purporting to represent reality. But what of the films that are saying that this is reality, that the law cannot reach the perpetrators of rape and murder and that citizens can wreak the vengeance.

A Time to Kill is very emotional in its impact. We identify with the family of the ten year old black girl who is brutally raped. We understand that her angry father guns down the two assailants. But what responsibility has he? How guilty is he? Matthew Mc Connaughy is very good as the defence lawyer whose family and his own life are on the line from the Ku Klux Klan. His summation speech to the jury is of the you-can-hear-a-pin- drop kind and brings home the nature of racial prejudice. But is it right? Issues of justice and revenge.

1. The impact of the drama? Issues of justice and law? The eye for an eye theory? As embodies in the American experience?

2. Mississippi in the 90s, the town and its neighbourhoods, its streets, court, offices, the diners, the woods? The musical score? Atmosphere of the South?

3. The title and the questions it raised, the biblical quotation from Ecclesiastes, the law from Exodus of an eye for an eye? The perspective of the gospels and forgiveness? Stances concerning justice, the law? Capital punishment? Jake or Ellen's stance?

4. The opening, the little girl walking along the road, in the shop? The boys, drunk, racial prejudice, arrogance? Stopping, brutalising the girl? The impact for her father, in the hospital? The reaction of fathers in the town, Jake, the deputy sheriff? Jake's summation speech, asking the jury to shut their eyes and imagine the plight of the little girl - and then imagine she was white? The dramatic impact for the audience, issues of rape and violence, murder, racial issues?

5. Carl Lee, work at the factory, his relationship with his family, the effect, telling Jake about his anger, the past bond between himself and his brother and Jake, going to the court, the shooting? The wounding of the deputy sheriff from the ricochet? The boy's mother and Freddie Cobb watching?

6. Jake, in himself, Lucien as his teacher, his admiration for him, learning from him? Having the firm and the offices from him? Ethel, her devotion, the accounts, continually reminding him of his financial state, of his moral duties? (Jake and Harry baiting Ethel about her relationship with Lucien?) Harry as his friend, his talking to his wife, knowing the threat of Carl Lee's action and not communicating with the sheriff? His later feelings of guilt? His being in the courthouse with the shootings, their impact on him? Afterwards, his feelings, his wife, Carl Henry and their talk about his work for him, pro bono, the financial difficulties, Jake wanting to be a friend, Carl Lee saying it was not possible, accusing him of unwitting and latent racism?

7. Carl Lee and his deliberate plan, the plea of insanity, his not giving it any credence? The legal explanations by the psychiatrists of the possibility of a break with reality, sanity or insanity? Jake and his accepting to be Carl Lee's lawyer, to the press? Money issues, Ethel, his wife? The beginning of the phone threats, the burning cross, the beating of Ethel's husband, his death, the funeral, her words to him about blame, the inevitable consequences of his action? The abduction and torture of Ellen?

8. The judge, his stances, justice, prejudice? His behaviour in the court? A friend of the district attorney? His painting, summoning Jake to him, giving him the options? The pleas in the court, his attitude towards the lawyers' antics, the drama? His being impartial in allowing objections? The issue of bail?

9. The psychological experts, the government witness, his confidence, Ellen having gone into his office, found the information of how many cases he had testified for, his saying that one client was sane and then accepting him into the institution? His being tricked? The defence psychiatrist, his drinking, backed by Lucien, the revelation about the statutory rape - and Jake later explaining that the girl had become his wife, the mother of his children? The status of experts and their testimony?

10. Buckley as the district attorney, his arrogance, wanting to be elected as governor, his smart team, wanting to discredit the psychiatrist, his taunts during the trial, objections, treatment of witnesses?

11. Lucien and his history, his explanation of himself, being ousted at the demonstration, barred? His drinking, his walking with Jake and giving him advice, not going into the court, changing his mind and coming in for the final summation? Jake's tribute to him?

12. Ellen Rourke and her background, Boston, wealthy, her father? Giving Jake the information about precedents, the discussion about helping him, his turning her down? Harry lascivious remarks? Her continuing to help? The information, references? Her going to the institution and getting the information on the psychiatrist? Her eagerness in working with him? The discussions about capital punishment, her being shocked at his being pro-capital punishment, thinking he was a liberal? The emotional bond between the two, Jake's wife leaving, her asking him if he wanted her to stay and his reply that he did and therefore she should go? Her being beaten by the Ku Klux Klan, left, taken to the hospital, the news of the victory? The farewell?

13. Jake's wife, daughter, shocked at the treatment of Carl Lee's daughter? Her response to Jake taking the case, watching him on the television? The threatening phone call, the increasing fear, the warning about the cross on the lawn, her leaving the house, her parents and their stance, her flying with her daughter to them, her absence, the effect on Jake, her having to think things over, her return and support?

14. Harry, wealthy, drinking, his divorce cases and earning money? Lazy, a good friend, the fears of the Klan and the terrorising? His continued support?

15. Freddie Cobb and the death of his brother, witnessing it with his mother? Anger? His racism, his friends? Going to meet the Dragon, the interview? His being urged to recruit members for the Klan, his friends, the policeman? The seriousness of the ritual initiating them into the Klan? The crosses on the lawn, the hoods, going in crowds, the warnings, the beating of Ethel's husband? The street battle? The placards, the hoods being taken off the members? The abduction of Ellen, torturing her? Freddie and his finally being defeated?

16. The sheriff, the black man in the town, the arrest of the two young men, his literal strongarm tactics, his being inured to insults? The deputy and his being shot? The sheriff and his continued help, the deputy and his strong testimony in court saying that he would have done the same thing, had his daughter been raped?

17. Carl Lee and justice, arguments about the law, the importance of the rape trial, whites getting off, murder trials and blacks being condemned? The issues of race, fairness, trials? The church sequence and the support of the family, the collection? The arrival of the NAACP and the support of the minister, money for a new lawyer, the reverend and his disregard for Jake? Jake and his strong stance, Carl Lee and his strong stance, demanding that Jake be the lawyer, and that the money be given to the family? The arguments about the cause of African-Americans?, if Carl Lee were condemned it being a setback, if he were freed it being a victory?

18. The issues of capital punishment, Carl Lee's attitude, Jake and his discussions with Ellen? The prosecutor and his demanding the death penalty? Life imprisonment versus execution?

19. The trial, the arguments of the lawyers, the objections? The judge and his growing impartiality?

20. The build-up to the final summation, the district attorney's harsh condemnation, demanding the death penalty? Jake and his discussion with Carl Lee, issues of black and white? His asking the jury to imagine the plight of the young girl? The exuberance when Carl Lee was set free?

21. The final party, Jake bringing his wife and daughter, their meeting the black family, mixing with them - that hope could be fulfilled?

22. The arguments about crime, justice and the law, intelligent and rational arguments, emotional arguments?