MR KINGSTREET'S WAR


1. The particular emphases of the title? On Kingstreet, on the nature of war? Indication of themes?

2. People's attitudes towards Kingstreet, as a saint, as playing God, as self-appointed? The love of his wife? What kind of person was he?

3. Audience attitude towards Kingstreet at the start, his violent pursuit of Morgan, his treatment of Morgan, his love for Mary, his work with the animals, a certain intensity and fanaticism? Could audiences identify with him as hero?

4. How surprising to discover that Morgan was his brother? The incident with the scissors and the flashbacks? The threat of cancer? Morgan saying that he was his brother's cross? The importance of the flashbacks in Spain and the effect on both men? Their going to Africa together? Their differing attitudes, protection of the animals, smuggling?

5. The importance of the war atmosphere? 1939? The European conflict transported to Africa? Kingstreet confronting the issues? The visit of the Italian colonel, his personality and style, his brashness and imperialism? The meal, his deal and his being attacked by Kingstreet? His vengeance in laying siege to the house, threatening Mary? The turning of the tables and the colonel's attitude? The details of the continuing war? Kingstreet's ambush, the fights? What was the purpose of Kingstreet's war against the Italians? For his work, the animals, for himself? Principles?

6. Comment on the fact that he treated the English in the same way? The contrast with the English approach and the Italian approach for getting his water? The irony of his blowing up the English armaments?

7. How well did the film present the world of the animals, the initial elephant hunt, the various details of animals? The waterholes? The need for Kingstreet to be neutral and independent to preserve this?

8. How convincing a person was Mary? How attractive, her marriage to Kingstreet and her love of him? Her role in his work, their relating? Her helping the natives? The threat by the Italian colonel and her turning of the tables? Her participation in the bombing of the Italian trucks? Her fears as the siege grew? Her helping Morgan? Her compassion for his cancer? How well delineated was her character? Could audiences identify with her?

9. What kind of man was Morgan? His relationship with his brother, his destruction of the plane, yet his final shooting and saving his brother?

10. The irony of Morgan's death, giving his life for his brother?

11. How well did the film build up to the final confrontation and fight? The pathos and suddenness of Mary's death? An appropriate ending?

12. How well did the film present World War Two, its comment on twentieth century wars and hostilities? Its themes of individuals in war, motivations, survival, heroics?