LOVE CHILD

US, 1982, 96 minutes, Colour.
Amy Madigan, Beau Bridges, Mackenzie Phillips, Albert Salmi, Joanna Merlin, Margaret Whitton.
Directed by Larry Peerce.

Love Child is a pretty story based on the life of Terri Jean Moore. Terri Jean Moore herself acted as technical. consultant for the film.

It is a portrait of a young woman, a rebel, living on her own and caught up, accidentally, in a crime. She does not receive justice, too heavy a sentence and has the prospect of remaining in jail for half of her life. At first sullen, she begins to get used to the prison regime and is of an inquiring mind, even to examining her situation in law. However, an attachment with a prison guard leads to pregnancy. She is shrewd, remains in solitary until it is too late to have the proposed abortion. She then writes to lawyers to help her in the process in the prison whereby a statute allows her to remain in prison with her child- Despite the odds, she wins her case.

The film is strongly pro-life: the young woman who gets a chance and who admits that a responsibility enables her to be a new person, the champion of the right to have her child and to stay with her child in prison. The presiding judge makes the point about the right of the mother to be with the child, but the more important right of the child to be with its mother.

This is one of the first films of Amy Madigan, a most capable character actress (Places in the Heart, Alamo Bay, Field of Dreams). Beau Bridges is effective as the callous guard. There is a good supporting cast including MacKenzie? Phillips as J.J., sympathetic prisoner, Albert Salmi as the prison governor, Margaret Whitten as the lawyer (who was to go on to more sardonic roles in such films as Secret of My Success, Major League).

The film was directed by Larry Pearce, director of a great range of films and telemovies on social themes including The Stranger Who Looks Like Me, and the biography of John Belushi, Wired.

1. The film as a true story, human values, life?

2. The '70s, Florida, ordinary way of life, the road, prison? The significance of the final Carly Simon song and its lyrics: 'Something More'?

3. The title, the focus on Terri, the baby? Her technical advice? The voice-over? The technique of the days being numbered for the audience to see?

4. Terri and her age, background, rebellious personality, alone? Jesse and his talk, the future, wanting the ride, the gun, running away, the arrest and her running?

5. Her hostility to the lawyer, collaborating with him, the judge misunderstanding the case, misinterpreting it, imposing a severe sentence, the protest of the lawyer? The effect on Terri?

6. Going to prison, her hostility, the collage of the usual procedures in going to prison, the shower, the photo, fingerprints, etc? The fellow prisoners, the rules, her reaction?

7. Being transferred to Broward, the elaboration of the rules on the PA system, Mark Ellis and his administration, the guards, to the recreation room, to her own room, isolation, clashes, the antagonism towards the black prisoner and the eventual fight with her, J.J. and the bond? The various jobs and routines? Meeting Jack Hanson, the attack and his help? The bond between the two, arranging the meetings, the sexual encounter, her telling him of the pregnancy? Confronting him? The decision to have the baby? Discovering that he had a family, his leaving? Terri and the interviews with the
authorities, going into isolation, staying the time refusing to eat, saving her baby and preventing the abortion?

8. The library, the help of her friends, studying the statutes, writing the letters to the lawyers?

9. The reception of the letter, the legal advice, Jackie and her arrival, the clash, documents to enable her to be the lawyer, the preparation for the bearing, the hearing itself?

10. The stances during the hearing: the judge and his objectivity, the Florida state authorities and not wanting the baby in the prison? The psychologist and her comment about how difficult it would be, Mark Ellis and his sympathetic attitude but finding it difficult? Jackie asking them if they would obey the law? Their opinions and consent? The arguments of the state representative? Terry, her speech, her claim for responsibility in having to look after a new life? The judge and his criteria for the decision, the rights of the mother, the greater rights of the child? Winning the case?

11. Terri's future, the situation with the child, the realities of the question of abortion, the judge saving her and the child? The announcement of the birth over the PA system, the inmates cheering, Terri's probation and being with her child?

12. The sketch of the prisoners, the characteristic types in the prison, friendships, isolation, fights, for example in the cafeteria? J.J., her personality, her love for Terri, her support and help?

13. Jack as a warder, his work, the meetings, sex, reaction to the baby, the glimpse of him at home, his leaving? Terri not denouncing him?

14. The sketch of the authorities, the law, their attitude? Warders, administrators, psychologists?

15. Themes of hope, opportunity for individuals, the effect of responsibility on their lives?