COURAGE

US, 1986, 150 minutes, Colour.
Sophia Loren, Hector Elizondo, Billy Dee Williams, Dan Hedaya, Mary Mc Donnell, Ron Rifkin.
Directed by Jeremy Paul Kagan.

Courage is a crusading anti-drug telemovie. It is a strong vehicle for Sophia Loren. She is matched by Hector Elizondo as her quiet husband. Billy Dee Williams is the anti-drugs agent.

The film shows an ordinary woman with an addict son who wants to do something against the drug merchants. She becomes involved, collaborates with the police, courageously acts as a courier, gives testimony for the conviction of a drug ring.

At times, the film might seem to lack credibility. However, Sophia Loren gives a persuasive performance and indicates strong motherly concern for her son that enables us to believe this would be motivation for her action.

Direction is by Jeremy Kagan, director of such films as Katherine, Heroes, Sting II, The Chosen, The Journey of Nattie Gann.

1. A serious telemovie, message? Drama? Entertainment?

2. An American story? The American cities, streets? The opening with, the manufacturing of cocaine in South America? The murder of the child in Miami? Locations, authentic atmosphere? Editing and pace? The continued use of angle shots? A crooked world? Musical score?

3. The film as a Sophia Loren vehicle, her status, her presence? The title and its relationship to her?

4. The credibility of the plot? Mariana as a person? Involvement with the Justice Department? With the drug ring?
Her crisis?

5. The opening sequences of the family, joy, Joey's addiction, family troubles? The voice-over of Mariana and of Nick?

6. Loren as Mariana: in herself, as mother, wife? The agony with Joey? The attempts at rehabilitation? Advice that there was nothing more to be done? Her love for Tony, his help, his criticisms of her love for Joey? At work, her skills, business management? Her relationship with Nick? Love, fondness, dealing directly with him? The discovery of the drugs at work, the effect? Her reaction, consulting the authorities? Their contacting her in the church? Meeting with Bobby, the team, the involvement? The contacts about the bail for her employee? Gabriella and the other contacts? Frank and Rita? Her decision about becoming a courier? her work as a courier, the instructions? The delivery of the drugs - and her hard line enabling the photos to be taken? Her decision to take the drugs to sell - against advice? Tony and his reaction? Nick and his reaction? The continuous phone calls the danger? Her encounter with the boss, his being impressed by her accepting his commission? The threats? The build-up to the showdown, in the shop, the final escape plan? In protective custody? Her reaction when the drug leaders were set free? Nick persuading her to give testimony in court? In herself, strong woman, her mother's motivation? Her strengths, the consequences - work with no personal gain? The aftermath and the comment about her not disguising herself and protecting herself for the sake of her son?

7. Her use of her wits, courage, in action, coping?

8. Nick in himself, his love for his children, Mariana, his work, decisions, fears, final support for her?

9. Joey and his addiction, with the girl in the apartment and the drugs, Mariana and Nick visiting Tony? and Mariana going to check out the apartment, Joey's reaction to his parents, the meeting in the park and the money? Tony and his concern, reaction, driving his mother, the final walk to safety?

10. Bobby and the authorities, at work, their personalities, team, information, tactics, danger, surveillance, photos, decisions, the final plan, the plea about the court?

11. The drug ring: types, Pete and his reasons for becoming involved, the employee and his fear of jail, the need for bail, his contacts, Mariana’s visits to him in jail, the various contacts, Frank and Rita - and the wedding day, distributing the drugs for sale, pressure for money, the couriers, the bosses, the man at the top and his lifestyle, the network, the philosophy of continued users and their dependence, the collage of the arrest sequences, court?

12. America in the 1980s, drug situations, addicts, drug rings, law enforcement agencies, ordinary citizens helping?