PLAYING BEATIE BOW

Australia, 1986, 93 minutes, Colour.
Peter Phelps, Imogen Annesley, Mouche Philips, Nikki Coghill, Moya O'Sullivan.
Directed by Donald Crombie.

Playing Beatie Bow is based on a story by Ruth Park (The Harp in the South, Poor Man's Orange, Missus). The film is a fantasy - starting in Sydney in the present and moving in time to Sydney 1873. The film makes enjoyable contrast between Sydney and, especially, The Rocks in the '80s and the atmosphere of the 1870s. The film highlights the way of life in a rather squalid inner city area in the 19th century. The film also plays well on the contrasts of lifestyle and attitudes of 19th and 20th centuries.

Imogen Annesley is very attractive as the heroine Abigail. Television soap opera star Peter Phelps makes an engaging hero. The supporting cast is excellent, especially Mouche Philips as Beatie Bow. Moya O'Sullivan is a sympathetic granny.

The film plays on old fairy tales, superstitions, time travel - as well as self-sacrifice for the good of a family. While the film is designed for children, many may be puzzled by it. But adults might well enjoy it very much.

1. A pleasing fantasy? For children? Adults?

2. The work of Ruth Park, her novels? Understanding of Sydney, 20th century, 19th century? Romance and mystery?

3. The title and the game being played by the children? The irony of Beatie Bow being real? Of someone going back to her time? (And the children of that time playing a similar game?)

4. The atmosphere, the children playing in the Rocks, the background of the decor? The atmosphere of the Rocks? The waif on the steps? Natalie and her delight? The contrast with Abigail, school, her lifestyle? The intercutting of the three characters? her not seeing Beatie? Natalie's gift, giving of the collar, Abigail putting it on the dress, seeing Beatie Bow, chasing her, wanting to help, the sudden transition to the 19th century?

5. Abigail and her mother, the antique shop, the clash about the reunion with her father? The friendship with Justine, Natalie, the sequences in the flat? her fight with her mother? These memories coming back when she was in the 19th century? The return and reunion with her mother? Discussions with Justine about her ancestors? Natalie and the gift?

6. Abigail, 16, attractive? Her life experience? Finding herself in 1873? Chasing Beatie Bow, the meeting with the family, Samuel and his madness and her injury, her being kept in the house, well treated? her relationship with each of the family? Going out into Sydney town, Beatie Bow chasing her, running through the streets of Sydney and its atmosphere? The low-life streets, the brothel and the large Madam? The girls? The aristocrat and his attitudes, wanting Abigail? The fight, her being tied up upstairs, the fey prostitute? Her untying her knots, dangling over the street, the dramatic rescue by Judah and his friends? The fight? In love with Judah, the beach sequence and its romanticism? Dovey and her love for Judah? The choice of the gift, Beatie not wanting anyone to know? Granny and her explanations? Someone barren, someone giving their life? Gibbie and his being upstairs, the fire and Abigail rescuing him? The farewell? Granny and her power getting Abigail back home? The experience of the 19th century? The humour of the 20th century style, talk, revelation about what was to come?

7. Beatie Bow: the waif, collecting things and taking them back in time, tough, wanting to keep her gift a secret, at home, her Latin lessons, love for study, her attitude towards Abigail, chasing her in the street, welcoming her back, her anger with Judah and Abigail on the beach? The fire? The farewell? The information about her that she became a schoolteacher? That she was barren - thus fulfilling the prophecy?

8. Judah as hero, nice, his work, relationship with Dovey, his singing, the rescue with his friends, the love for Abigail, the romantic beach scene? The fire? The farewell, the information about his death at a young age - his sacrifice as part of the prophecy? Robert and his coming into Abigail’s life - and the romantic scene on the same beach?

9. Granny and her secrets, the history of the family, her illness, power, helping Abigail?

10. Dovey as crippled, her love for Judah? her surviving many years after his death?

11. Gibbie and his illness, wanting the angels to come and take him, pious 19th century language, his smugness, being upstairs, the fire and the rescue - and the irony that he was to live a long life and marry?

12. The atmosphere of Sydney, people in the streets, buyers and sellers, the Chinese and the laundry, the brothel and the Madam, the aristocrat, the ugly and unhealthy atmosphere of Sydney? The contrasts with the 20th century? The special effects for similarity and change?

13. Fantasy, delight, mystery and meaning, romance?