A FATHER'S BETRAYAL

US, 1997, 87 minutes, Colour.
Brian Dennehy, Lyn Redgrave, Reed Diamond, Alice Krige.
Directed by Brian Dennehy.

A Father's Betrayal is a hard-hitting look at rape, not as in so many American television films with the younger generation, but with an older generation brought up on macho stances. Brian Dennehy, who also directs, plays a powerful attorney who is accused of rape by a friend of his son. At first denying it, it emerges that he has a history of violent sexual relationships, even with his ex-wife. There is a dilemma for his son whom he has just made a member of the firm, who has not known his father while growing up and now discovers the truth from his mother.

Alice Krige plays the woman who suffers the indignity of the assault, the attack on her person and her humiliation in the media and in court as well as losing the court case. Reed Diamond is the son.

The film shows both sides of the argument, the seeming paranoia of the victim as well as the mistakes of her past, the aggression and win at all costs attitude of the aggressor. The film was complicated by the lawyer's son being a Big Brother for the victim's son. The film offers a great deal for thought about sex crime, attitudes, victims, the media, the aggressive attitudes displayed in the courts.

1. The impact of the film? Themes of rape, violent sexual assault? Justice for the accused, for the victim?

2. The American setting, affluence, the lawyer and his firm, the teacher and her school, family homes? Atmosphere of affluence, seemingly far away from violent crime?

3. The title, the focus on Ed, his role as a father, his lack of qualities as a father? His son, not knowing his father, wanting to get to know him, applauding him, defending him, turning against him? His final confrontation? Ed Junior and his being the Big Brother, father figure to Matt?

4. The title, the theme of betrayal of the family, the son - as well as the betrayal of friendship with Rebecca?

5. The opening, the genial atmosphere, Ed making his son a partner, friendship of the directors? The party? Katherine and her devotion to Ed? Love for his son? Rebecca coming, being charmed by Ed? The appointment for the dinner on the weekend, the jokes, the discussions? Ed and Rebecca being alone, her permitting him to make advances? Her screaming, Katherine's response? Her version of Ed's aggression? Seeing Ed's version of her compliance? Her fears, waiting for three days to go to the police, the doctor? Katherine and her support, yet her devotion to Ed? Rebecca's decision to go to the police? The police ringing Ed to warn him that he would be arrested? The arrest, fingerprints?

6. The response of the firm, their being on Ed's side? His being a pillar of respectability? His making his son make a decision, the other partners? Going outside the firm for the defence lawyer, the black woman, her tough investigations, her finding the truth about Rebecca, her being hard-hitting in court?

7. The effect on Rebecca, her anonymity, her paranoia about the man following her in the garage, her losing her cool with the children at school? Her relationship with her son, Eddie and his being a Big Brother? The clash because of Ed and Eddie defending him? The revelation that she was the victim, Matt and his going to Eddie? Her being distraught, wanting to withdraw? Her lawyer, his support, his persuading her to go through with it?

8. The investigations, her lies about her illegitimate son, her dead boyfriend, the man who agreed to pretend to be father, the Reverend and the death of his son? Antagonism towards her? Her unreliability?

9. Eddie, the discussions with his mother, her not going to his promotion party? The discussions in the garden, her story about Ed's first secretary, her not going to the police, the look in the secretary's face? Her own experience of Ed's violence? His going to his father, the confrontation, his father's antagonism towards his ex-wife? His explaining the macho situation of the past, win at all cost, the meaning of "no"? The ambiguities? His own private experience of his aggression, his distorted face? The subterfuge for Eddie to be on vacation, Katherine seeing him, her antagonism towards him?

10. The court case itself, the questions, Rebecca being humiliated? Ed and his being direct? The verdict in his favour? The celebratory party?

11. Ed, his relationship with his staff, with his partner, the striptease at the stag party - and Eddie's not going in? Ed and his vicious attack, paying off the stripper, discussing about "no" meaning "no"?

12. Eddie, the discussions with Rebecca, the scenes with Matt? His decision to take her case in civil action? The confrontation with his father, the apology and the admitting the truth?

13. The end of the film, Ed going out of the room - would he actually make the apology?

14. The important themes of rape, sexual encounters, crime, consent? On an adult and mature level?