A BREED APART
US, 1984, 95 minutes, Colour.
Rutger Hauer, Powers Boothe, Kathleen Turner, Donald Pleasence.
Directed by Philippe Mora.
A Breed Apart is an environmental thriller, coming in the early 80s, early enough in the campaign for ecological consciousness that was so prevalent by the end of the decade. The film was made in North Carolina, focusing on the backwoods, the protected species on islands and rivers in that state. It focuses on people involved in the preservation of the environment, ordinary people who take sides in favour of the environment, collectors who are predators on ecology and dying species. There is also an attack on the media and its exploitation.
The film was directed by Philip Mora, the Australian director whose credits include Mad Dog Morgan, The Beast Within, Communion, Howling Two, Death of a Soldier. The star is Rutger Hauer, the Dutch actor who went to Hollywood in the early 90s and starred in such films as Nighthawks, Blade Runner, The Hitcher. Powers Booth is the mountain climber who is, employed by Donald Pleasance to steal eggs of an almost extinct species of eagle. It is interesting to see Kathleen Turner in the feminine lead, after her work in such films as Body Heat, but before the peak in her career with Prizzi's Honour.
1. An ecological thriller? The environment? Violence and intrusion on the environment?
2. The North Carolina locations, the small town, the river, the island? The focus on the beauty of nature, the species, the flight of the eagle, the nest? Action sequences and editing, stunts? the musical Score?
3. The title, the reference to small species and their survival, the focus on Jim and his living apart after his Vietnam experience? The relationship of Jim to nature?
4. The atmosphere of North Carolina, the backwoodsmen and their hunting, their making a living? The special types, the breed apart who looked after the environment? The beauty of the surroundings? The appeal to the audience for the preservation of the environment?
5. Jim, the mystery man on the island, the owner? His work with the birds, preservation? The snake and the cages of birds? the eagles on the mountain and the protection of the eggs? his strange behaviour? The confrontation with the hunters, his shooting the arrow? Their enmity, their attack on him later and the violent battle, deaths? His relationship with Stella and Adam, Adam idolising hint? His resistance to Stella and her advances? The memories of his wife and child? Intimations of something strange? The encounter with Michael Walker, friendship, discussions about nature, giving him the fish, talking, friendship and, trust? His response to Stella. Friendship, looking at the campsite, helping him to reconcile with Stella - but using him for the opportunity to scale the mountain? With Stella, the passionate encounter? His sense of something wrong, the riding the horse, pursuing Mike, shooting? The reconciliation between the two? the media and their interrogations and being pushed into the water by Adam? A new beginning?
6. Whittier and his eccentricities, the recluse, his bald head (and the symbolism of eggs - and his having the egg for breakfast)? His collection, its illegality, the proposal to Michael Walker, persuading with the money? The phone calls and his pressure, raising the price? His failing, left alone with the egg, his collection, the threat of the expose on television? His symbolising the exploiters of the environment for their own selfish vanity?
7. Michael Walker, his mountain-climbing and training, the media, ambitions for China, wanting the money, invited by Whittier, listening to the proposal, lack of scruple, the money? Arrival, the clash with Stella? Reconciliation, dinner with her? Going to the island, being warned, the encounter with Jim, friendship, discussion of the environment? Staying, understanding him, not telling him the truth? Leading him on about Stella, the reconciliation and urging him to go to her? The attack by the woodsman, the fight and his helping Jim? The scaling of the mountain, seeing the eggs, listening to Whittier's voice, the decision to leave them there, photograph them only? Jim's attack, the fall into the water, the rescue? His taking the honourable stand? The encounter with the TV reporter, the sexual encounter, his not giving her information? Meeting her at the end, offering her an exclusive?
8. Stella and Adam, running the store, mother and son, love, clashes? Attachment to Jim, his resistance? Her reaction to Adam's driving the car? Meeting Mike, stern after the clash with Adam? The woodsmen and their fight with Jim in the store and their destructiveness, Jim paying? The dinner with Mike, his advances, on the couch? Her going to the island with Adam, the bad reception and their return, the reconciliation, the passionate encounter? A future with Jim?
9. The reporter, her attitudes, the encounter, the interview, into the water, her sense of humour, meeting Mike and getting the exclusive about Whittier?
10. The backwoodsmen, hunting, the character of the hunters and their brutality, killing the birds at random, then collecting them and burning them? Attacked by Jim, shot? Their coming, the attack on the island, being outwitted, accidentally killing one another?
11. The blend of serious ecological themes with the violent outdoor action film, the backwoods vengeance film? How well did they combine for audience entertainment? For communicating the environmental message?
