BREAKER MORANT

Australia, 1980, 107 minutes, Colour.
Jack Thompson, Edward Woodward, Bryan Brown, Lewis Fitz Gerald, Chris Haywood, Rod Mullinar, Charles Tingwell, John Waters.
Directed by Bruce Beresford.

Breaker Morant is a solidly made film from the fine South Australian Film Corporation, excellent in location and action photography, editing, a crisp warfare and court martial screenplay (based on a play plus Kit Denton's book) and Bruce Beresford's considerable experience.

The anti-war themes are quite contemporary: commando tactics and counter-strategies, cruelty, scapegoats, cover-ups and miscarriages of justice. Complex issues are not simplified, Morant and his fellows not merely glorified. Edward Woodward makes Morant interesting, credible and dignified; Jack Thompson is strongly persuasive as the defence counsel and a group of excellent actors give some of their best performances, especially Bryan Brown, Charles Tingwell and Rod Mullinar. Fine period drama.

Beresford's films include the Barry Mc Kenzie films, me Getting of Wisdom and The Money Movers, David Williamson's Don's Party and The Club.

1. The status of the film in Australia, 1980? Its merit and qualities within the Australian cinema renaissance? The awards? Illustrating the Australian industry and its skills in the '70s? Audience popularity and acclaim?

2. The work of the South Australian Film Corporation? Its re-creation of South Africa at the turn of the century, period atmosphere, sets, locations, English headquarters, the Boers, the battle sequences, the stately mansions, the court house, the fort? Action sequences? The quality of the colour photography, the landscapes, the seasons? The skills in the editing, especially for the flashbacks, the pace of the court martial? The musical score, the band playing as a chorus? The songs: the Boer song and its atmosphere of patriotism, Breaker Morant's song sung by himself, the Soldiers of the Queen at the end?

3. The intricacy of the screenplay: the introduction to Morant, the establishing of the Boer War and its atmosphere, the initial information given? The court martial and its being prepared? The flashbacks? The interspersing of the court martial with the flashbacks – and cumulative story of Moran t and the men and their involvement? The interplay of present and past? The dramatic interaction of the flashbacks with the tension in the court case?

4. The reputation of Harry Morant in his day: English black sheep, man of popularity in the colonies, horse-breaker, poet, romantic hero? His place in South Australia? His joining the Bushveldt Carbineers? The type of romantic hero of the 19th century? His pragmatic attitudes, poetic flair, intensity? His attitude towards war? The potential hero – with weaknesses? Becoming the victim? His place in the Boer War at the beginning of the 20th century with a new war, commando raids, changes of rules, changes of codes, cover-ups? The film's attitude towards Morant – as he appeared during the credits sequences, his conduct throughout the film, his stances at the court martial? The condemnation and the execution? The qualities that Edward Woodward brought to his performance?

5. Morant and his command, his place within the Bushveldt Carbineers, his relationship with Captain Hunt, the sequence of the attack on the house and Captain Hunt's death, his mutilation? Morant's reaction, knowledge of the rules of war? His pursuit of the Boers, his judgment on them, executions? His own personal feelings and the rules? Taylor and his advice, information, urging to execution? The various precedents of execution during the war? The emergence of Taylor's complicity, executing prisoners? The case of the missionary – security, Handcock and his killing the missionary? Morant's decision about this execution? The bases for the arrest? The film's presentation of Morant as a person, as an officer? His interpretation of his times, patriotism, the cause, justice, personal loyalties? Personal cruelty? His influence on the other men? The attitude of his friends, enemies?

6. The presentation of Morant's behaviour – his control, his attitude towards the court martial, towards Thomas? His actions as a gentleman? Poet and the reading of poetry during the film, his comments on Byron, his final poem about his death? His offhand manner? The strong friendship with Peter Handcock? With George? His memories of England, Captain Hunt, Hunt's sister and his engagement? His presence in court, his telling the truth, his disappointment with the witnesses, his anger, his realisation that he was victim? His knowledge that he was expendable for the sake of Empire? His final cynicism towards the Empire? His receiving the sentence, his communicating it to George? His comment on being a pagan, his final epitaph from Matthew's Gospel about a household being the enemy? The marching towards death, the early dawn, the violence of his death? His final singing of Soldiers of the Queen?

7. How complex a character was Morant, how complex did the film make him, the film as basically a character study of Morant?

8. The characterisation of Handcock – as an ordinary Australian, his personal qualities, weaknesses? His memory of his home and his wife and son? His volunteering for action during their depression, his skill in his work, his belief in carrying out orders? His strictness in eradicating abuses e.g. as regards Boer property with Morant? Soldiers' hostility towards him for this? The illicit stills? His tactics for putting the Boers on the train? His observing of situations, his friendship with Morant and loyalty to him? His decision about killing the missionary? The ladies' man and his liaisons with the two Boer ladies? His continued wisecracks especially during the court scenes, the Australian flavour, the tradition of the larrikin? His attempts at personal integrity? His final letter home, his comment on Australia forever, Amen! His decision to be a pagan with Moran t? The final jokes, the making of the coffin and its fit, the irony of them pushing his feet into the small coffin? The Australian victim, the expendable man? His behaviour in the courtroom, attitudes towards the witnesses, towards the officials, his reaction against fate for the ending of his life? George Witton and his volunteering for the war, family expectations as shown in the flashback? The young man, his attitude towards Empire, soldiery? A good soldier? His relationship with the men and their advice for Morant through him? The killing of the prisoner who attacked him, self defence? His surprise at being arrested, his fears in the court, his hopes? His giving witness? His straightforwardness? The young man, his regrets, his reputation? His disgrace? The sentence? His presence in the court, waiting, friendship with Handcock and Morant? His grief at their execution? The information given of his imprisonment, his later book?

9. Themes of war – issues of war, rights and wrongs, the explanations given? Particular incidents e.g. the attack on the house and the brutality of both Boers and soldiers? War and skirmishes, pursuits? The rules of the Boer War e.g. executions of Boers, wearing of uniforms, firing squads? Missionaries and intelligence? Spies and scouts? The irony of the attack on the fort by the Boers and the three prisoners being given weapons to defend the fort? The discussion about commando raids and the trains? The effectiveness of tactics? The traditions of war and their being changed in this war? Public opinion, communications, Britain and its attitude, Germany and the possibility of taking sides, the Commonwealth? Australia as a new Commonwealth and its loyalty to Britain, its attitudes towards the three prisoners and their expendability?

10. The background of South Africa: the Boers, their farms, the natives, the clash with the English? The farmers going to war with their brutal methods? The minority and their effectiveness against Britain as illustrated in the farmhouse defence, the attack on the fort? Their being executed by the English? The feeling of the sequence with the Boer song? The women at the officers' meal? The women and their liaisons with Handcock? British Empire interests at the turn of the century? The irony of Bolton's comment on English altruism not shared by the Germans?

11. Jack Thompson's award-winning performance as Thomas? His first appearance, awkwardness? At the banquet with the officers and the atmosphere of class distinction? His presence in the court, seeming awkwardness with his papers etc.? The lack of time given him for preparation? The mistrust of the accused? Their gradual support of him during the trial? His legal technicalities and the way these were used? His insistence on evidence from Lord Kitchener? The gradual respect of Major Bolton? The growing support of his clients? His personal sequences with them in the prison, their not telling him the truth about the murder of the pastor? His support of them throughout the end? The impact of his final summing up, the persuasiveness of his points? The intensity for the audience of the final summing up speech?

12. The character of Taylor – the ambiguity of his presenting himself at the court? His being a witness for the accused? His place in the flashbacks? The advice given about prisoners, his own violent attitude towards them? His evidence being used and traded for the condemnation of the accused? The Judas figure?

13. The presentation of the British – Lord Kitchener and his headquarters, his assistant? The point of view about the ending of the war, the treatment of the Boers, the attitudes towards the Germans? The expediency of using the Australians? Lord Kitchener's declining to offer evidence? His assistant's presence in the court and the direct lies that he told? The film's comment about the British, responsibility? The condemnation of the few for the saving of all? The correctness of this attitude?

14. Major Bolton and his presentation of the prosecution? His interrogation of the witnesses? His attitudes towards Thomas? The gradual respect? His agreeing to points? His attitude towards Lord Kitchener's assistant? Attitude towards the President? The social encounter and the discussion with Thomas? The members of the Tribunal? The President of the court and his behaviour, attitudes, overruling of Thomas' points, prejudicial listening, judgments?

15. Captain Hunt and his influence on Breaker Morant, the friendship, the violence of his death? Past memories, personal friendship versus principles and the treatment of prisoners in war?

16. The presentation of the Boers – their not being seen as persons so much as groups, commandos attacking eg the hillside, the prison itself? The Boer prisoners and their expectations of execution? The parson and his knowing the group, his passing near Boer towns? His being shot at a distance?

17. The build-up of the witnesses – their initial credibility, the questions asked by Thomas, the highlighting of the improprieties and unprincipled behaviour? Their stealing cattle, attitudes towards orders, criticisms of Morant and his friends, jealousy? The sentry and his drinking around the town? The contrast between their presentation of themselves in court, in the flashbacks?

18. The guide and his presentation of himself in the court, his presence during the expeditions, interpreting, advice for Morant to kill? His denial of this in the court? The pathos of his killing himself while the band played in the town, the crowds gathering round?

19. The build-up to the final judgment being given? The audience disagreeing with the condemnations? Each of the accused taken and the judgment given? Their brisk communicating of this to one another? Their being taken out to execution – the clergyman, the discussion about pagans, Morant's quotation from Matthew and the enemies within his own household? Their dignity in going to death? The execution at sunrise out on the open hill, the chairs, their being tied? The dramatic filming of the shooting, of their deaths? The irony of the coffins being made and Handcock's not fitting?

20. What was the audience left with in the final moments of the film? The singing of 'The Soldiers of the Queen'? The attitude towards the men themselves, the court martial, the execution? The film's presenting Morant and his friends as having done what they were accused of? The individual morality of these acts in the context of their orders, the responsibilities of authorities – and these responsibilities being forfeited? The film's conclusion on war and the effect of war?