ROSWELL

US, 1994, 95 minutes, Colour.
Kyle Mac Lachlan, Martin Sheen, Dwight Yoakim, Kim Greist, Peter Mac Nicol, Bob Gunton, Xander Berkeley, Philip Baker Hall, Eugene Roche.
Directed by Jeremy Kagan.

Roswell is the dramatising, by playwright Arthur Cobbett who also appears as a doctor, of the 1991 book UFO Crash at Roswell. There have been numerous documentaries made about this New Mexico base where allegedly the US government covered up the UFO landing. These stories have been the basis for many movies from Close Encounters to Independence Day (and parodied by Mars Attacks).

The film focuses on the actual officer Jesse Marcel and his role in the discovery of the UFO and his being the fall guy for the cover-up. In the context of a reunion 30 years later, Marcel remembers the past but also interrogates a range of people to try to find out the truth. He finally encounters Townsend, played by Martin Sheen, who reveals to him a lot of the discussions of the period - but gives a final speech warning of the dangers of imagination, self-fulfilling prophecies, lack of evidence and the need for open-mindedness.

The film is well dramatised. It will certainly support those who believe in UFOs and the cover-up. For those who don't believe, it is an interesting drama on a controversial issue.

1. The interest in Roswell? Fifty years? Documentaries? Feature films and mini-series?

2. Roswell and its fame, the credibility of the claims? The credibility of the cover-up?

3. Audience belief in the stories of Roswell? The evidence offered? Researched books? Townsend's warning at the end asking for open-mindedness?

4. The stance of the screenwriter? Pro the events, critical of the events and the claims? The atmosphere of authenticity?

5. The opening credits, the introduction and information, the range of interviews? The range of perspectives? Issues of life and intelligence in the universe? "We are not alone"? Contact from other planets and galaxies?

6. The structure of the film: the 30-year reunion, the focus on Jesse Marcel, his memories? The reunion, the photos, the ageing men and women, the television news giving the information about Marcel, the government action? The interviews and the humiliation of Marcel? His being there with his wife and son? His determination to understand the past and to vindicate his stances and beliefs?

7. The background of the events of Roswell, the military base, life at the base, weather issues, the experience of the light, the crash, the aftermath?

8. The variety of reactions to the events? The sheriff and his swagger, giving information, wanting to be on the media? His staff? The farmer and his giving his information? The reaction of the sheep, the farmer wanting the reward? The initial reaction of the military officers?

9. Jesse Marcel's job, examining the material? His discussions with the family, telling his son, giving him a piece of the foil?

10. The speculations, the concern about the Russians, the press reports? Carson and Lewis and their discussions? The chief officer? The sealing off of the area, the crowds, the forbidding of people to go in, including the sheriff?

11. The foil and its behaviour? The gradual wariness? The press conference and Marcel being the fall guy, the theory about the weather station? The asking for explanations from Carson? Lewis? Asking his son for the foil back?

12. The reunion, the social gathering, people talking? The mockery of Marcel? The encounter with Frank and the memories of his broadcasts? His giving the news? His reminisces, his not believing the information given, his research?

13. Lewis, the golf game, the memories, Lewis telling the truth but under promise of silence, the memories with Carson, the reconnaissance?

14. The two guards, the reminiscences, their information? The flashbacks and the guard looking at the creatures but keeping silent? The mortician, his going to the hospital, his being ousted, his relationship with Janet, the information that she gave him?

15. Townsend and his approaching Marcel? Sympathy, his own researches? The visualising of the round table discussion at the highest level, the range of issues, social, religious? The decision for the cover-up? The visualising of the creatures, the interrogation? Trying to communicated, the death of the creature?

16. The role of memories - and reliability? The need for evidence?

17. Townsend's speech, the nature of theories, the nature of evidence, the nature of the imagination, wishful thinking and self-fulfilling prophecies? The need for open-mindedness on both sides? Yet Marcel's satisfaction, going back to the field, with his son and wife and feeling vindicated?