CATHY'S CHILD.

Australia, 1979, 90 minutes, Colour.
Michelle Fawdon, Alan Cassell, Bryan Brown, Willie Fennell, Arthur Dignam.
Directed by Donald Crombie.

Cathy’s Child is based on an actual story, novelised by journalist Dick Wordley who is portrayed by Alan Cassell in this film. The film focuses on a mother whose child is taken back to Greece and who wants to recover her child. Michelle Forden won the best actress award (beating Judy Davis in My Brilliant Career) at the Australian Film Institute Awards of 1979. She is very persuasive in this part – she was a singer who appeared as Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ, Superstar. She appeared in television series from the 1970s and continued for almost four decades. She did not make very many films for the cinemas. However, she was seen in Unfinished Business, Travelling North.

The film has Australian settings as well as Greek settings.

Bryan Brown is effective, as always, as the plain-spoken Australian who helps Cathy to recover her child. Character actors including comedian Willie Fennell appear, Fennell as the Australian Consul.

The film was directed by Donald Crombie who had begun in the film industry making documentaries in the 1960s and then into the 70s with Who Killed Jenny Langby and Do I Have To Kill My Child. His first feature film was Caddie, followed by The Irishman, then Cathy’s Child followed by The Killing of Angel Street and Kitty and the Bagman. He kept working in the industry making films as well as a lot of episodes for television.

1. An interesting and enjoyable film? Social observation? Didactic for an Australian audience?

2. The film as based on fact, the main protagonists being technical advisors? How authentic did the film seem?

3. The presentation of Sydney, the way of life in its inner suburbs, offices, newspapers, streets, airport? Sydney in its day-to-day living? Its beauty? The comparison with Greece and Cathy’s home? The visit to Greece and the presentation of Athens, the homes, the scenery and monuments?

4. Colour photography, semi-documentary realism in Australia and in Greece? The film’s attention to detail? Editing for pacing and the forward movement of the story and Cathy’s anguish? The contribution of the score, Greek atmosphere? The final song and its lyrics?

5. The importance of the social concern of the film, aspects of justice, bureaucracy, government? The oppression of migrants? A service such as an evening newspaper's hotline in achieving justice? The film's tribute, the newspaper people and their social concern and achievement?

6. The importance of presenting the plight of migrants in Australia? Language difficulties, traditions, way of life? The pressures of Australian society for assimilation? The lack of comprehension for migrants of European origin? Officialdom and the lack of help? The injustice in the repercussion for migrants and especially their children? How much empathy did Cathy’s experience draw from the audience?

7. The quick sketching of the portrait of Cathy at home, waking up, her love for Irene, the friend minding Irene, Newtown, her going to the factory to work?

8. The comparison with Dick Wordly waking up, the motel, his drinking, telephone to his wife, concern about his children, coming late to work? The portrait of a talented but seedy newspaper reporter?

9. The introductions to the offices of the Sydney Sun, hot line office? Paul Nicholson and his attitude, his experience, his background, bereavement, and his concern? his being a newspaper man eager for a story, his human feelings? How credible the portrayal of the hotline office?

10. Cathy at work and the humdrum nature of the factory work, her desperation in going to the Sydney office, the security card, her timidity, of going up, her phone call, finding her way up, and the beginning of the solution of her problems?

11. How attractive a character was Cathy Bakas? As a Maltese migrant Australian, her marriage to her husband and his deserting her and his infidelity? The impact of his cruelty to her, and his violence, in her not calling help? Her love for children and the experience of his taking her child? Her explanation of how many people she had asked for help, the information given, the lack of consideration, misleading information? Not adapting advice to the needs and understanding of the migrant wife? Her desperation and the way she conveyed this? The feeling that nobody would help her, trying to find the right channels and her way of doing things properly? The various parts and elements of the story and their making sense? The credibility of her personality in persuading Wordly and Nicholson of her story? Their testing it out? Michelle Fawdon’s performance and its authenticity, her range of moods, desperation, love, and concern? Her accent? The importance of her performance for persuading the audience to believe in her and care for her?

12. The picture of government, bureaucracy, the minister and his interviews and general talk, his later support of Cathy and the poses as he helped her towards Greece? The various departments and their co-operation? The various channels and their help and lack of help? The ambassador in Greece and his service? The ambiguous presentation of government and bureaucracy?

13. Why did Dick Wordly so respond to Cathy Bakas? As a newspaper man, the cause, the attraction to her, his rehabilitation? The earnestness of his efforts, seeing him at work at the paper, with officials, his angers, discussions with Paul Nichols, discussing the issues with Cathy at meals?

14. Cathy and her development as a person in seeking for her child? The working with Dick, the attraction towards him? Irene and leaving her at the convent? Her fears, John Bakas’ friends and their attacks? His mistress? Her continued sense of anguish, hopelessness? Her love for her child and this preoccupation? The language barriers? her limited understanding of things? Her experience of the Greek community as a Maltese? Her experience of John Bakas’ violence, taking the furniture etc.? The importance of the phone call to Greece and her reaction to John Bakas's family?

15. The background of the Greek network, their attitudes in Sydney and the communications about her? Lila as John's mistress, looking after Maris in Athens? The going to Greece and meeting the Bakas family, their help and cooperation, their attitude towards John? The happiness in the end with the exchange of photographs, the gift of rings?

16. The background of the Sydney Sun? Keeping the headlines going, keeping the story alive? The T.V. coverage, the minister and the Greek granting of the passport? The efforts to obtain the money for the fare, the threats that it would not come off? The eager anticipation? Cathy’s preparation? Dicks achievement?

17. The contrast with the Greek world, Athens? The Ambassador and newspapers, the arrival, knocking at the door of Lila’s and seeing Maris, her shouting out? the observers in the street? The family and their support? The court and the handing over the child?

18. The impact of the return of the reporters at the airport? Everyone being happy, the picnic and Dick’s going off? The human achievement for Cathy?

19. An enjoyable feature film, semi-documentary? The human interest of the story and audience empathy? The authenticity, the facts? A reflection of Australian society of the seventies especially as regards migrants?