IN DEFENCE OF MURDER (I KNOW WHAT YOU DID or CRIMES OF PASSION: I KNOW WHAT YOU DID)

US, 1998, 95 minutes, Colour.
Rosanna Arquette, Steven Eckholdt, Lawrence Monoson.
Directed by Chuck Bowman.

In Defence of Murder is a strong telemovie, focusing on the issue of rape. Rosanna Arquette portrays a high-flying lawyer, skilled in defending men from charges of rape. In a dramatic case, she gets a young man off who is patently guilty and destroys in cross-examination the rape victim. Then, a DA who is obsessed with her, rapes her. In her upset at his second approach she kills him. She then panics, disposes of the body and does not tell anyone what happened, especially her fiance who is the detective in charge of the investigation. However, the murder was witnessed by a blackmailer who in turn blackmails her.

The film works as a police investigation, the clues emerging, people making mistakes. The audience, meanwhile, sees everything from the lawyer's point of view. She herself becomes very nervous, approaches a rape crisis centre whom she has antagonised with her work. When the blackmailer gets out of hand, she tells her fiance the truth and gives herself up. There are court proceedings. She herself makes an impassioned plea to the jury - and is found not guilty in terms of self-defence but is found guilty of obstructing justice and made to do 2000 hours work at the rape centre. This particular application of justice seems to be much more fair-minded and appropriate for the situation.

There have been many telemovies about rape, especially from the victim's point of view. By focusing on the lawyer and her situation, the film works on the level of drama and melodrama while making its strong points about rape.

1. The impact of the film? Murder mystery? Detective investigation? Rape crisis film?

2. Modern America, city, offices, homes, the courts? The streets? An authentic atmosphere? The musical score?

3. The title, the lawyer's being charge with murder and obstruction of justice? The condition of the rape victim, self-defence? The example given of the woman in jail who was raped by three men, had shot them, and was found guilty of manslaughter and imprisoned? The finale with the self-defence verdict? However, the lawyer not being let off and given community service?

4. The opening with the lawyer defending the young man in the court, the brutal cross-examination of the victim? Seeing her outside with her parents and the counsellor? The media? Her doing her job, the defendant having the right to the best lawyer? Yet her reaction? The members of her firm and their celebrating?

5. The Assistant DA, his picking her up, his sad story, his going in, talk, his vengeful attitude, the rape, his brutality, threats, her getting the fork and killing him? Getting rid of the body, the car, jogging home? Talking to Richard on the phone? A complete cover-up? The irony that the Assistant DA was being blackmailed, Phil watching outside? His coming forward, the evidence, $50,000, giving her some of the evidence and her burning it? His reappearance, wanting more money, his threats, his boasting of being a career criminal? His coming when the lawyer and Richard were at dinner? Richard seeing his face on the photo, the pursuit, discovering the patterns of the phone calls in the DA's book? The conclusion that he was a blackmailer, the confrontation and his arrest?

6. The character of the lawyer, poised, assured, successful? Her relationship with Richard and the marriage plans? The effect of the rape, her nervousness, irritability, moodiness, unable to tell the truth? Going to the crisis centre with the hypothetical case, eventually having to say that it was herself? Her going to the centre and seeing the battered wife and offering to do the work for her? The tension between herself and Richard? The effect of Phil and his continual reappearances, coming to her office? Getting the upper hand, and going to the police?

7. Richard, genial young man, dedication to the police, his partner and their working together, the exasperated boss? Searching for the missing man, the discovery of the body, the car, his shrewdness with the detective work, the prong of the fork? His looking at the phone book, interviewing the women, eventually working out the pattern of blackmail? The women giving testimony? The lawyer and her eventually telling the truth to Richard? His standing by her?

8. The court proceedings, justice being done?

9. An interesting film showing detective work and its success? Legal cases? The psychology of the rapist and his inadequacy and domination? The career criminal and the blackmailer? The women as victims of men's power games and brutality?

10. The film contributing to an understanding of the crime of rape, the effect on victims, what is needed to be done for victims?