RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE
US, 1986, 100 minutes, Colour.
Michael Ontkean, Jane Kaczmarek, Billy Dee Williams, John Randolph, M.Emmet Walsh.
Directed by Jeffrey Bloom.
Right of the People is a strong telemovie, focusing on gun control in the United States and the availability of weapons. It gives both points of view. However, it ultimately comes down against the widespread use and availability of guns.
Michael Ontkean portrays a DA whose wife and daughter are massacred in a restaurant. He becomes a demagogue in favour of having arms, leading a political campaign. The film has strong support from M. Emmett Walsh as the mayor and John Randolph as the chief of police.
The film shows what happens in a society where arms are available, an atmosphere of fear, fanaticism, psychotic types taking up arms and becoming heroes, ordinary citizens caught in violent situations. It is worth discussing.
1. The impact of the telemovie? For the American audience? World audiences?
2. The themes of guns and gun control, political stances, legislation? Campaigns? Emotional responses to tragedies? Human nature and violence? The use of arms by unbalanced people? Violence and death?
3. The American city of St Lawrence? Typical American city, citizens, mayor and police chief, DAs? Television stations and interviews? Political campaigns? The people and their taking to guns?
4. Chris and his lectures, the appointment with his wife and daughter, discovering their deaths? His anguished grief at the scene, aftermath? His stances? The support of Alicia? The clashes with the mayor, with the police chief, with his colleagues and his friend?
5. Alicia and Angela, preparing for the outing, discussions? The restaurant, the hold-up, the gun at the daughter, Angela moving the gun, the massacre?
6. The campaign? The hearing and Chris making his speech? The alarm of the councillor and the authorities? The senator and his offer for help? The advertising campaign, slogans and posters? Commercials? The speeches and rallies, the people's response, Chris as demagogue?
7. The television interview with Alicia, her alternate stance? The mayor, the police chief and the police? The councillor?
8. Chris's friend in the force, his attitude, the police attitudes? His having a gun? Discussions with Chris?
9. The passing of the law, the availability of guns, the consequent violence? Each side of the argument presented? The robbers going into the store but afraid when they saw the guns? The nervous woman and her inquiry about a permit, training? The young man and his imitating screen heroes, armed, shooting the robbers - and the debate about whether he should be awarded a medal, his receiving of the medal? The old man and the drawing of guns in shops? Tension in the bars with everybody looking at their guns?
10. Chris and Alicia and their discussions, his having second thoughts, blaming himself?
11. Alicia and her perspective? Audiences identifying with her?
12. The title of the film, the relationship with the American Constitution, the bearing of arms, the availability of arms?
