CAST THE FIRST STONE

US, 1989, 94 minutes, Colour.
Jill Eikenberry, Richard Masur, Joe Penny, Lew Ayres.
Directed by John Korty.

Cast the First Stone is one of the many telemovies focusing on rape which were issued in 1989. It is a telemovie, for the wide popular audience. It focuses on a teacher who is raped in a motel, becomes pregnant, decides to raise the child herself, becomes the victim of the censorious attitudes of the school board and takes the issue to court.

Jill Eikenberry (L.A. Law) gives a strong performance, showing the nerviness and the breakdown of the woman as well as her strong recovery. Richard Masur is her prosecuting lawyer. The film is well made, highlighting the injustice and violation of the rape - and the traumatic consequences for the woman involved as for the man escaping scot-free. The film also raises issues of morality, judging others - hence the title with the quotation from John's Gospel chapter 8, where Jesus speaks on behalf of the woman taken in adultery. The direction is by John Korty, veteran movie director (River Run, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman).

1.Strong telemovie, issues of rape, single motherhood, public opinion, justice?

2.The portrait of the town, its ordinariness, the school? The courts?

3.The religious background of Diane: the title of the movie, St John's Gospel? Jesus' words? The innocent? The convent background, her training to be a nun, her decision to leave? Her prayer, strong Catholicism? Abortion issues? Personal self-doubt?

4.The portrait of a woman, her crisis, ability and inability to handle a crisis, the consequences? Personal crisis, social and professional?

5.Diane, babysitting, teaching, her experience in training to be a nun? Her strong friendship with Sandy, going on retreat, being very busy? Policy towards hitch-hikers, self-reliant? Picking up Andy, ordinary talking, the rain, his coming to the motel door, her wanting to help him, letting him into the room, the impact of the rape, the knife, her reaction - the shower, not informing the police, trying to telephone Sandy?

6.Diane as a teacher, her skills, methods, strictness? The dyslectic girl and her angry mother? Parents' complaints and threatening the law? Her severity after the rape? The various incidents with teachers, children, parents? Bill and his being on her side? Mediating with the board?

7.The rape experience, credibly presented, her decisions, blaming herself, the aftermath? The statistics about women who do not report rapes? Talking with Sister Angela, with Sandy? Elaine and her disbelief, unwillingness to listen to her sister, reading too much into the story about the deacon? Bill and his concern, Frank and his sympathetic attitude? Her not facing the reality of the rape? Its build-up inside, her gradual collapse, the need for therapy? The two versions of the rape and the reasons for this? Her final behaviour in court?

8.Discovering she was pregnant, the possibility of abortion, her principles? The phone call and her not following through? The home for adoption? The possibility of keeping the child? Her pregnancy, her job, meeting people, the birth? Raising her son? Wanting to do everything for him, relying on Sandy but shouting at her? The pills, deciding that suicide would be better? His two years birthday?

9.Diane as a person, her religious background, lack of sexual experience, her self-image, the effect of the rape on her, growing harsh, reaction to her pregnancy, fear? The board and her getting angry? Her harshness towards Sandy while relying on her? Choices, lawyers? Nervy? Discussions with her father? The pills, despair? The therapy, becoming poised and fighting back?

10.Sandy as a strong person, faithful friendship, support, Diane and the baby living with her, her infinite patience?

11.The contrast with Elaine, her severity towards her sister, disbelief? The Stantons unwilling to adopt the child? Her answers in court?

12.The picturing of the board, Frank as chairman and knowing Diane? Bill and his evaluation, receiving the teachers' complaints, not being able to stand up for Diane? The members of the board, the man who stood up for her? The teachers and their hostility? Parents and their testimony in court, scandal, not wanting their children exposed to this kind of thing? The statements and the accusations of immorality?

13.The lawyers, the prosecutor, the defence lawyer, the lawyer's support, handling the case? Winning?

14.The sketch of the rapist, the plausibility of the scenario? His having gone - and no idea of the consequences?

15.The friendship of Sister Angela, her understanding and support?

16.Themes of the '80s, women and their struggles, injustices? Values? A portrait of the harsh and hypocritical society?