WHICH WAY HOME?

US, 1990, 141 minutes, Colour.
Cybill Shepherd, John Waters, Peta Toppano, John Ewart.
Directed by Carl Schultz.

Which Way Home is a telemovie for the Turner Network. It is long (perhaps prolonged).

It is a story of refugees from Cambodia, the treks into Thailand, the difficulties of getting placement, the camps for the refugees. It is also a story of a heroic American nurse, played by Cybil Shepherd, who takes a small group to safety and pressurises the captain of a ship, John Waters, to take them to Darwin. It has echoes of The African Queen.

The film's style is for the wide American television audience - with a touch of cute. Supporting cast includes Peta Toppano as a Darwin girlfriend of John Waters and John Ewart as an Australian official in Indonesia. There are many cute kids - with scenes which are very emotional concerning children, their clashes, needs, deaths. The film obviously has its heart on its sleeve.

Direction is by Carl Schultz (Travelling North, Careful He Might Hear You) and music by Bruce Rowland (The Man From Snowy River, Phar Lap).

1.Entertaining telemovie? Emotional experience? Asian refugees?

2.Production qualities, the location photography in Asia and Australia? Special effects for the sea, storms? Battle sequences? The musical score?

3.The title, the focus on refugees, conflict in South- East Asia, the contribution of neighbouring countries, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia?

4.Karen, her work in Cambodia, her motivation? The hospital, operations, the bombardment, her concern for the nurses, for the children? Rescuing the children - and the long trek into Thailand? The difficulties, the car, hostile youngsters, the death of the young man? Her shepherding the group to safety? Not wanting to go to a refugee camp? The difficulties, the boats, pirates? Finding Steve, the rescue? On the boat, interactions with him, his hostility - and tying him up? Her falling in love with him? The care for the children? Hostilities, friendships, deaths? Steve and his going ashore, their taking the boat? The final storm, refuge in Darwin? The romantic interludes, her going back to her work?

5.Steve, in Darwin, his boat, owing money, friendship with Annie, clashes with Charlie? The need to get a cargo, the smuggling of antiques? Taking Billy? Going to Thailand, doing the deals? The return, the encounter with Karen and the kids? His unwillingness? Their pressure, the pressure on him, his drinking, the deals, their taking the boat? The death of the girl? The visit to Indonesia, discussions with the official? The final storm? Relationship with Karen, giving up the drink? The concern about Billy's injuries, the phone calls to Annie? Arriving home a successful mission?

6.Annie, love for Steve, pressure on him, concern about Billy? Engaged to Charlie? Charlie and the repossession of the boat? The phone calls, Annie's temper? Billy's injuries and return? Health again?

7.The picture of the kids, the Vietnamese and the Cambodians, their clashes? Streetwise and trying to survive? The statue from the temple - and the prayer? The family, the sick girl, her death? The experience with the pirates, the difficulties on the boat, not wanting to go to the refugee camp? Surviving the trip? The boy overboard - and his being picked up?

8.Officials, advice, hands tied because of policies? The trade and the need for cargoes? Smuggling of antiques?

9.Themes of racism - especially Annie's speech to the men in the bar in Darwin? The strong point about everybody in Australia being refugees, welcoming those in difficulty? The strong message about compassion and concern?

10.Popular telemovie - international incidents, real events portrayed for a wide audience for emotional understanding?