SILENT FALL

US, 1994, 101 minutes, Colour.
Richard Dreyfuss, Ben Faulkner, Liv Tyler, Linda Hamilton, J.T.Walsh.
Directed by Bruce Beresford.

An often interesting mystery focussing on a young autistic boy who witnesses the murder of his parents and the doctors who try to get testimony from him (Richard Dreyfuss as the sympathetic psychiatrist, John Lithgow as the professional with drugs). However, it becomes less plausible as it goes on which means that it is a passable entertainment rather than a dramatic thriller. Bruce Beresford directed. Promises more than it delivers.

1. Interesting thriller? Murder mystery? Psychological drama?

2. The title, the season, the murder and its repercussions?

3. The Maryland locations, the importance of the house, the interiors and exteriors? The water? The hospital? Musical score?

4. The initial deaths, the violence, suggestions about what had happened, who was responsible? The mystery? The basic facts, the clues? The investigation by the police? Questions of hypnosis, the use of drugs? Psychological treatment? Files and drawings? The revelation of the truth? How effective a crime drama and the solving of the mystery?

5. Jake, his reluctance to take up the case, the past? His visit, the information about the case, the papers, Karen? Cards and the contact with Tim? His work, responsibility? Rene, Mitch, the scenes at home? At the scene of the crime, techniques, Tim and the scissors (and the cards)? Sylvie and her come-on? The psychologist and his wanting to opt out? Talking, Tim's echoes of his talk (and the television)? At the restaurant? The file, Darla and Mitch? Meaning to fail? The ice, the rescue and the reconstruction?

6. The picture of Tim, the knife and his giving it up, the blood? His age? Sylvie and communication? The voices, the games, the closing of doors and the order? Learning, the bond? The voices - his phoning Sylvie? (And the plausibility of that happening within the house?) Saving Jake, using his own voice?

7. The use of autism, no explanation, the world of the autistic child, physical aspects, the possibilities of therapy, drugs, hypnosis? The police needing the evidence of the autistic child for the case?

8. Sylvie, her age, in the cupboard, the dress, Tim, the house? The relationship with Karen - and adapting to people? The come-on? The discovery, misleading? The truth, the ice? The end and her future?

9. The portrait of Karen - the conventional wife, companion, appearing in kitchen scenes? Undermining the strength of the film?

10. Mitch and the police, the affair, Rene?

11. Rene and the drugs?

12. The portrait of the psychologist, the reliance on drugs, the hopes for drugs and the contrast with natural means and hypnosis? The film's taking sides about treatment?

13. The plausibility of the plot, the victims and their behaviour, the murder, the role of the children? the resolution with the communication of voices and the phone within the house?

14. Using the conventions of the murder mystery - with the addition of the humane theme and the portrait of the autistic child and his treatment?