THE LIFE OF HARRY DARE
Australia, 1996, 90 minutes, Colour.
John Moore, Nicholas Hope.
Directed by Aleksi Vellis.
This offbeat Australian film is receiving limited release through the Australian Film Institute since the film was not picked up by commercial distributors. A pity, since this is an interesting film focussing on urban aborigines. Its star is John Moore (star of such films as Deadly and Blackfellas) and the setting is Adelaide. The film is a combination of murder mystery, detection, comedy and social comment. While it nods in the direction of American parallels, it has a strong local flavour and humour. But it also reminds Australian audiences of issues that are being discussed about aborigines and possibilities for development, family relationships, police. Not a big film but interesting and entertaining.
1.The combination of thriller, comedy, private eye and detection, social comment?
2.The Adelaide locations, the city, the wharves? The suburbs and the Aboriginal homes? The melting-pot? Musical score?
3.The crash, the flashbacks, the story? The mystery? Returning to the beginning? The end - tongue-in-cheek?
4.John Moore as Harry, screen presence and style? Harry and the voice-over? His background, life, self-appreciation?
5.The van, jail, Ben and the money, the curse? The stolen van, the police? The job? The ending?
6.Harry, his age and background, relationship with his father? The flashbacks? His happiness with his father? The mystery of his disappearance and death? Working on the van? Marriage, Jem and the romance? Marriage? The son? The build-up to the separation - Harry and his love for the van? The years passing? Getting jobs and failing? Mum, Ben? Dan and the taxi?
7.The police, their styles? Kevin? The offering of the deal about the drugs? The van and the black band? The kids and the drugs? In hospital? Police suspicions of Harry?
8.Jim and Harry and their relationship, detecting, talk, bonds? The uncle, the van gone, going to the pub, the clue with the matches, the pizza? Making the links? The discovery?
9.Action, behind the couch, the girl and the revelation of the truth, the fights, the chases, the crashes? Comedy action style?
10.The relationship between Luigi and Harry's father? Luigi's daughter and her rebelling? Max and the links? The band and their music? Psychological humour? Reconciliation and the truth?
11.Jem, going off, her anxiety, the climax and her involvement?
12.The picture of the police, the officer, the assistant? At work, dealing with Harry, prejudices? With the kids? The van, the chases, the finale?
13.The kids and the themes of drugs? The dangers for Aboriginal children? Children rebelling against their parents?
14.The workers, the scams, the revelation of the truth, Harry's father?
15.Urban Aboriginals and their culture? Black and white relationships? City life, traditions? Ben and his scene? The grandmother? The cousins?
16.Harry Dare as the hero of the private eye detection, the unwitting hero, relationship with his family, with his wife and son? The happy ending?
