CAREFUL, HE MIGHT HEAR YOU

Australia, 1983, 108 minutes, Colour.
Wendy Hughes, Robyn Nevin, Nicholas Gledhill, John Hargreaves, Geraldine Turner.
Directed by Carl Schultz.

Careful, He Might Hear You won many of the awards at the 1983 AFI Awards. It was best film; Carl Schultz was best director; Wendy Hughes was best actress; John Hargreaves was best supporting actor.

The film is based on Sumner Locke Elliott's autobiographical novel. It is set in Sydney in the '30s and this film re creates much of the atmosphere. It shows a young boy, played somewhat eccentrically by Nicholas Gledhill. His mother has died. His father (John Hargreaves) is absent. Brought up by a working-class aunt and her husband (Robyn Nevin and Peter Whitford very effective), his wealthy aunt (Wendy Hughes) wants to take care of him. He is caught in the middle of the struggle between the two aunts.

The film is sensitively made. It is beautifully produced. Most people will find it satisfyingly humane entertainment.

1.Impact of the film? Its reputation? Awards? Sumner Locke Elliott and his autobiographical novel? His reputation and interests? Adaptation for the screen, big budget and re-creation of period?

2.Sydney in the '30s, the suburbs, the atmosphere of the Depression, affluent north shore suburbs? Homes, streets? School? Wharves and railway stations? Panavision photography and style?

3.The score, the orchestrated music? Songs? Emotional background to this story?

4.How effective the film as drama, personal conflicts, issues? Avoiding soap opera styles?

5.The title - with Lila's reference to PS? For the adults, for the child not hearing what his aunts were saying? The scenes of subjective listening by PS? Hearing Lila and George? Hearing Logan and Vanessa? The nurturing and protective attitudes of the aunts? Possessive?

6.The structure of the film: PS at the centre, the characterisations of Lila and Vanessa? Intercutting PS's life with the two aunts? The arrival of Logan? The crisis? The court case - and the resolution?

7.Lila and her husband, at home in the poorer suburbs, the depression? Their talking, the situation with PS? The visit to the cemetery, the portrait of PS's mother, referring to her as Dear One? The family circle, the sisters? The visits of Vere (and her theatrical style) and Agnes and her religiosity, pessimism about death? The background of the family, deaths and responsibilities?

8.The world of the adults: the depression, wealth and poverty, responsibilities, love and care, nurturing and possessiveness, controlling? Vanessa trying to relive her past? Manipulation and control? Projection of needs onto children? The child as victim, needing freedom?

9.The characterisation of PS: the little boy, his soft manner, lisp, idiosyncratic? Hearing the adults speak? Loving Lila and George? His life at home? Winnie and playing cricket, the clashes with the little girl next door? Relating to Lila and George, not relating to Vanessa? Fascination with her, the visit to the home, his not liking the home? Divided in time between the two aunts? His arrival - and waving to Lila across the harbour? His being trained in good manners, at the table? His reaction to the storms and seeing Vanessa? Trying to keep secrets, trying to tell the truth? Yet Vanessa so demanding? The weekends with Lila, the return to the mansion? With Ettie? His lessons - and the aristocratic touch? Logan's visit, relating with his father, receiving the nugget and treasuring it? Vanessa and the court case, his talking with Lila, repeating her words to the judge? The judgment going against him? Back with Vanessa, the party celebrations - and a fiasco? The children imitating Vanessa calling for Logan and his deliberate hurting her? His return to Lila and George? Declaring his name was Bill? The final credits and his self-assertion as Bill?

10.Lila as the ordinary suburban woman, relationship with George? The union background? The poor home, George losing his job, the neighbours? Their love for PS? Waving to him? The visits, the background of the various sisters and their relationship? The court case, Lila's attempts to win PS? PS and Winnie and their colouring in George's scrapbook - and his frantic reaction? Lila's final response to Bill? George and his informing Bill and calling him by name? The portrait of a working-class couple in the depression, losing jobs, George's explanation of the loss of job, his working in the garden?

11.Vere and Agnes, eccentric, the stage background and Vere's liveliness, playing cricket? Agnes and her sombre tones? At the railway station? The court case? Attitudes towards Logan?

12.Vanessa, the youngest in the family, unloved and unwelcomed? Overseas with Ettie? Her return, clothes and style, the car and chauffeur? Visiting Lila? The arrangement to take PS? Wealth and its control? Her manners, training PS at the tables, music? Her reactions to the maid and training her? Her place in society? The storm and her fears? Logan's visit, the emotional toll? Her reserve, her not unbending for Logan even though she loved him? The clash with Logan and PS overhearing it? Her decision to go to court, winning the case? PS's reaction? Her being hurt? The party, the failure, the children imitating her and her reaction? Her relenting, her getting some insight into herself? The pathos of her death?

13.Logan as a warm man, irresponsible? Memories of his love for his wife? His knowing Vanessa - but not realising her love for him? The visit, his nervousness, talking with his son, the expectations, reaction toward the type of education? the problems with money? Giving PS the nugget? His irresponsibility, the documents, drinking, leaving from the railway station?

14.The contrast between the two worlds, children caught in the world of adults? The aristocratic works with its activities, England as the mother country? The contrast with the earthiness of the poorer suburbs?

15.Ettie, her friendship with PS and love for him?

16.The maid, Vanessa's training her, her reaction to Vanessa, to PS?

17.Portrait of a city, an era? The humanity of characterisations and the crisis?