WHEN HE'S NOT A STRANGER

US, 1989, 100 minutes, Colour.
Annabeth Gish, John Teralski, Kevin Dillon, Paul Dooley.
Directed by John Gray.

When He's not a Stranger is a very strong telemovie about rape. It focuses on a young pre-med student, moving from New York and family to California. The star footballer befriends her and rapes her. She makes a report to the university authorities; there is a hearing; unsuccessful, the makes a legal complaint and there is a trial.

The film focuses on relationships between men and women, especially the presumption in most people's minds that there is something wrong with the rape victim. There is also a strong protection for the young man - a mistake, concern about his career. There is a final speech by the heroine about the injustice of these presumptions and the law.

The film is well-written. It is also well-acted by Annabeth Gish (Desert Bloom, Mystic Pizza, Hiding Out) and by Paul Dooley as her father. There is a good supporting cast including John Teralski as the rapist and Kevin Dillon, playing somewhat against type, as a sympathetic friend.

Very useful for discussion with families and for high school and college students.

1.The impact of the telemovie, its issues, their dramatisation? Emotional impact? For the wide television audience?

2.California, the university, its atmosphere? Criticisms of California?

3.The information given about rape, rape by acquaintances? The statistics at the end about women attacked, about men attackers?

4.The film dramatising attitudes towards women: blame and sympathy, trials, interrogations, the blaming of women and the excuses for men?

5.The attitudes dramatised towards men: underplaying the rape, considering it as a mistake of judgment, protecting the man, defending him and his career? The support of authorities, peers?

6.Lynn and her coming from New York, her relationship with her parents, the scholarship, a good young woman, friendship with Melanie, sharing the room, introduction to Ron, her own shyness, high standards, friendship with Rick? In class, at the social? The encounters with Ron, his pleasantness? The meeting and the talk?

7.Persuaded to go to his room, trusting him? Ron as attractive, the pretext, the coffee, the lies? The sudden rape? Her reaction and fight against it? Disbelief? Ron and his callous attitude, not thinking that he had raped her? Her running away, Ron confronting her at the table with her panties? Their later meetings and clashes?

8.The effect on Lynn, her silence, telling the truth to Rick, telling the truth to Mel and her disbelief? The phone call to her parents and their mixed reactions? Discussion with the counsellor? The talk of the students, some girls supporting her? The discussions in preparation for the hearing, the hearing and the pressures on her to withdraw, in favour of Ron? The long interrogation at the inquiry, the criticisms of her drinking, the lies by the team to say that she was promiscuous? Victim and yet men taking it for granted that they could victimise the woman this way?

9.Ron as pleasant, attractive, the football star, his behaviour, the suddenness of the rape, his callous attitudes? His relationship with Mel? Friends and their support and lies? The hearing, the pressure from the coach? His parents, having the lawyer? His lying and twisting the evidence?

10.Lynn's parents, the phone calls, their reaction, belief or not, coming to support her, bewilderment? Criticisms of California?

11.Mel, her friendship, being hurt, disbelief? The importance of the court sequence, her telling the truth? Her reconciliation?

12.Lynn going to the lawyer, seeing how hard the trial would be, getting ready? The dean and his pressurising Lynn's father? The coach and his visit, the threats? Her reputation?

13.The trial, the evidence, the truth? The witnesses and the cross-examination? The use of Mel's disbelief as a point against Lynn? Ron and his stubbornness? The importance of the deal?

14.The importance of Mel's evidence and the winning of the case?

15.Rick, friendship, help, his being bashed by the group? The dance and the kiss? The kid from the block? Present at the end?

16.The result of the trial, the reaction of the parents, wanting Lynn to come home, letting her stay?

17.The judge, his treatment of the case, consideration of the evidence? The deal? His decision for the heavier sentence? A victory for Lynn?

18.The importance of standing up for values, attacking callous values? Lynn's speech in the court about the law and about rape?