BELINDA

Australia, 1988, 97 minutes, Colour.
Deanne Jeffs, Mary Regan, Joy Smithers, John Jarratt, Allan Cassell, Caz Lederman.
Directed by Pamela Gibbons.

Belinda is a short, small-budget feature written and directed by Pamela Gibbons. It is a memoir of 1968, of an idealistic young girl wanting to enter the world of classical ballet but being caught up in a gaudy King's Cross nightclub. The film shows the glamorous facade of the nightclub and the miserable lives of the girls who work there. it is an initiation into the world for Belinda.

While the theme is of interest, and the ballet and nightclub dancers quite striking, some of the dialogue is rather arch and undermines the credibility of characters and situations. There are some interesting performances especially by Mary Regan as Crystal and Kaarin Fairfax as Sandra. The choreographer, Robyn Moase, acts the role of Brenda.

1. Australian drama? The Sydney setting? Feminine perspective?

2. 1963, Sydney, suburbs and homes, King's Cross and nightclubs, the streets, behind the facade? How authentic?

3. Tne importance of the music? The dance, art and beauty, classical ballet, the nightclubs and the dancers? The presentation of the dancers, costume and glitter, glamour? Choreography and differing sensibilities?

4. The feminine sensibility of the film: the writer-director, the actresses?

5. The focus on Belinda: the opening and her dancing, hopes, her youthfulness and naivety? The career in classical ballet? Home, her relationship with her parents, the details of ordinary suburban life? The audition and her hopes? Preparation? The choroegrapher and the invitation? her going to the nightclub, apprehension? its style, Benny? Reaction, the routines, the timing, the people? Going home and her parents' concern? Her reaction, their giving her her freedom? Innocence and youthfulness? Her relationship with the girls? The glamour ana the seeming hopelessness? The bitching? The tensions and tantrums in the dressing-room? Sexual relationships? Suicide and violence? The effect on Belinda? The decision to leave? Her relationship with the teacher, returning to him, her future? What she had learnt?

6. The girls at the nightclub and the portrayal of their characters? Characters or caricatures? Crystal and her age, seeming haraness, concern for Belinda? Sandra and her neuroses, performances? Many, Helen, Brenda and the others? The uances, the hard work, Benny, the humiliations, the violence? Clientele, suicide?

7. The nightclub itself, Benny, the hold over the girls, the patrons and their advances, expectations? Of the period?

8. The sketch of Belinda's parents, average mother and father, their horizons, the alien nightclub, concern, discipline, the hours of Belinda's work, hopes?

9. Jamie and his friendship, the design of the costumes, homosexual, friend?

10. Graeme and his help, sharing the vision with Belinda?

11. How convincing a drama? The sometimes arch and sentimental dialogue? Message and memoir?