AMAZING CHUCK AND GRACE (SILENT VOICE)

US, 1987, 114 minutes, Colour.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Lee Richardson, William Peterson, Gregory Peck.
Directed by Mike Newell.

Silent Voice (Amazing Grace and Chuck) is a fable about a young boy - but a fable with a strong universal anti-nuclear message. Chuck is a twelve-year-old who decides to stop playing baseball after visiting a nuclear silo. He is joined by a number of sportsmen and women and the protest spreads throughout the world. Gregory Peck plays the American President who has to deal with the boy and his protest as well as negotiations with the Soviets.

The film is handled well, directed by English director Mike Newell (Bad Blood, Dance With A Stranger, The Good Father). While the plot is, unfortunately, impossible, it is nevertheless put forward with emotion and conviction.

1. A successful anti-nuclear fable? A piece of Americana? Its impact as humian-drama? Social message?

2. America in the '80s, and beyond? The stance of the film, its credibility? Protest and its effect? Political repercussions, military, social? Business interests? The repercussions for sport?

3. The setting in Livingston, Montana, the Rockies settings? The contrast of the small American town with Boston? The Elmer Bernstein score?

4. The different titles and their emphases? American style? Overseas style?

5. The work of the director, his interest in human interaction, his interest in crime, justice and the law? The strong cast? The national impact? International?

6. The portrait of Chuck: in his family, mother and father, sister, his age, his skill at baseball? His own rocket, the monkey? The irony of the children being taken to the silo by the enthusiastic politician? His boasting and explanations? Chuck's concern? The importance of his dreams - and nuclear destruction? His decision to bow out of baseball? The reporters and interviews? The effect on Amazing and his coming, the bond between the two? Friendship? Their stance and protest? Courage of conviction? Chuck's parents and their concern, the reactions of the people in the town, the violence? The attacks on his mother, his sister? Mad Dog and the friends coming to see Amazing? Their laughing, taunting, deciding to stay? The setting up of the commune? The joyful atmosphere? The media coverage? Chuck and his father, his father's calmness and anger? Taking him fishing? Talking? The intervention of the President; Chuck and his visit, the negotiations with the Russians? The plea of the President and his refusal? With Lynn and the friendship with Amazing? The repercussions of Amazing's death? His speech to the media? His silence and the sign? At school, the angry teacher, the children joining the protest, it becoming world-wide? The second plea by the President? Chuck meeting the President, calm, decision? The talk with Lynn about Amazing and the protest? Friendship? His dead family? The President and the negotiations, the change? His coming to see Chuck? The ending, the baseball game, the silent protest? A young boy of character, achievement?

7. Amazing Grace and his skill at sport, in himself, his experiences and his family, his response to Chuck, friendship, fatherly? The decision to give up sport? Persuading his friends? Sharing life in Montana? Handling the media? The friends and their response to the violence? His friendship with Lynn, her warnings? Going to Boston and seeing Mr Jeffries in the spa, the threats? His phone call to Lynn, the plane's explosion? His strong presence in their memories? His giving his life for the cause? His friends, their humour, going to visit the silo, deciding to give up their sport, join the protest? The range of sports figures joining?

8. Lynn and her management, friendship with Amazing, the contemplation of the river, the visits of Mr Jeffries, his friendship, sinister aspects, his final warning? Her phone call, her knowing that Amazing would die, her grief? Her talk with Chuck and explanation of the friendship? Her support at the final match?

9. Chuck's parents, his father and flying, ordinary scenes at home, his sister? The rocket and the mouse? Their reaction to their son's protest, finding it hard, his father's anger, yet support, not forbidding him? Russell's military friend, his boasting about the rocket capacity? The details of his tour of the site? Russell and his son's refusal? The news of Amazing's death, communicating it to his son? The encounter with the President? His final support of his son? The family at the final match?

10. The President and his handling of the situation, negotiations with the Russians, advice from his aides, talking with Chuck, negotiations with the Soviet Premier, the secret visits? Discussions? His reaction about Jeffries and Amazing's death? The phone call and the strict orders to Jeffries? The ending and his support of Chuck? His sign at the match?

11. Jeffries and big business, sinister presence, his intimidation of Lynn, his warnings, Amazing's visit to the spa, his death? The business associates, the blimp flying over the Boston skies with the news? The President's phone call and threats? The comment on money and big business interests in armaments?

12. The media and their presentation of the case, the world of sport and its being held up by the protest, school?

13. Emotional identification with characters, issues, circumstances?

14. Themes of peace, nuclear war, the reality of the silos (death in the ground)? Human resilience and hope?