A STREET TO DIE

Australia, 1985, 90 minutes, Colour.
Chris Haywood, Jennifer Cluff.
Directed by Bill Bennett.

A Street to Die is an interesting, moving and well-made film. It is the work of Bill Bennett, writer, producer and director. A journalist, he brings an eye to current affairs - but he also brings great understanding and sympathy. The focus on the film is the plight of the Vietnam veterans, physically and psychologically. The specific focus is on the first Agent Orange case in Australia - discussions for the Department of Repatriation, questions of compensation, decisions of the tribunals and courts and the influence of these decisions for further cases for the veterans.

A Street to Die is set in Mt. Druitt in the western suburbs of Sydney. The film captures the atmosphere of suburban life excellently. However, the street is for veterans. one side those of World War Two and Korea, the other side for those of Vietnam. It soon becomes evident that the Vietnam veterans have great problems in themselves, with their families and sometimes, with the health of their children. Chris Haywood is excellent as the veteran who discovers his illness, who prepares for death while fighting his case. Jennifer Cluff is also excellent as his wife. There is a very good supporting cast which makes the film powerful and convincing.

1. The dramatic impact of the film? The struggle for Vietnam veterans and the questions of Agent Orange? The Royal Commission decision against them in 1985? The film's interest? Concern? Audience emotional response? Understanding?

2. The film's acclaim and nomination for AFI Awards? Modest budget, effective production: Sydney suburban locations, the atmosphere of the western suburbs housing estates, streets, hospitals? Authentic flavour? Sydney, lifestyle, climate? The atmospheric musical score?

3. Audience knowledge and experience of the Vietnam war, the 60s, American requests, Australian involvement, politics? The memories of the conscripts, the jungle warfare, defeats and victories, the use of chemicals, the impact of the return of the veterans, the mood against the war, moratoriums and demonstrations? illness, pensions and repatriation cases, international cases against chemical companies? The film supplying background information?

4. The opening, Mt. Druitt, the suburbs of Sydney, outer limits, the streets: one side World War Two veterans, one side Vietnam veterans? Mood and atmosphere - the little girl and her sullenly breaking the bottles?

5. Chris Haywood's personality and style as Col: genial, the surveying of the houses, driving the streets, his relationship with Lorraine, love for her, with the children? The glimpses of him at work, the unions? Settling in the suburbs, home, the barbecue and the neighbours, Craig and his friendship, talk, playing chess, the kids in the background? Warmth, anger? Maureen and Julie? The hints of his illness, the rash, being tired, jogging, exercise and the question of smoking? The visit to the doctor and her interpretation of his illness as stress? The lumps? His getting on the wrong train, collapsing at the station and having to be picked up? The hospital and the tests (and the double talk by Nurse Sweet and the jokes about her nature and treatment of patients? Coping? The doctor and smoking? The growth of the disease, his weakness, the ability to walk, having to sit, wanting to do jobs, to make the house perfect? His anger with Lorraine? The realisation of the Vietnam side of the street? The focus on the chemicals, his study of them, going to the library, seeing the sprawling at school and his anger? Lorraine and the conducting of the survey? The visit to the beach - lyrical, romantic touch? The stone and the collapse? Going to hospital - the races, his jokes? The pathos of his actual dying? A man of dignity, a soldier? The purpose of his life? The purpose of his death?

6. Lorraine as a good woman, her bond with her husband, intimacy? Sharing with him? Settling in the new home, getting to know the neighbours, her work? Her bond with her children? Concern about her husband, the hospitals and the doctors? The care for him? The strong sequence where she told him of his condition? Her having to cope, her scream? The support of the neighbours? The sadness of his death? The funeral and her anger? Townley and the discussions about what to do, the search for the medical records and their not being forthcoming? The build-up to the hearings? Her participation in these? The aftermath - the phone call and the low-key victory? A portrait of a good woman with demands made on her?

7. The film's sketch of family life, the bonds, husband and wife, home sequences, outings?

8. Craig and Julie and their friendship, the little girl and her tantrums and the background of the chemicals affecting her brain? Torn and his control at the barbecue? His getting religious mania?

9. The doctors - the discussions about stress, antibiotics? The doc~ tor covering her tracks and trying to claim that she was putting Col in hospital? The phone calls? Walker and his insistence on being called 'Mr' as a surgeon? His concern for patients? The doctors at the hearings?

10. The importance of the hearings: Townley and his help. the range of experts, the members of the tribunal, the human face of the tribunal - their capacity for listening, their impatience? The range of opinions given, medical knowledge, political stances, attitudes towards the war? The role of government?

11. Audiences being able to identify with the characters, their situations? The film's authentic detail? Humour and seriousness?

12. The effect of this kind of film on audience consciousness? Contribution to social awareness of the Vietnam war, the Vietnam veterans, chemical warfare, the strains and stresses of the experience of war?