STEPPING OUT
Australia, 1980, 50 minutes, Colour.
Aldo Gennaro.
Directed by Chris Noonan.
Stepping Out was the United Nations official film for the Year of the Disabled. The film has also won several awards - at New York festivals, especially one for films of dance. The film is a very moving experience - it is subtitled as The Birth of a Theatre for the Retarded. Showing retarded young people in a home in Sydney, learning how to dance and mime, putting on a performance in the Sydney Opera House, is a heart-warming experience. It shows the potential of the human spirit, despite retardation, to achieve. The focus of the film is on Aldo Gennaro, a Chilean playwright, who relates very well to the retarded cast and trains them excellently for their performance. His work is one of empathy and encouragement.
The film is narrated by Romaine, who also appears in the film and gives a very fine personal comment on the events and the characters. It focuses on Chris, who emerges as an excellent mime and dancer.
The film interweaves human interest with documentary style. The achievement in the Opera House is filmed impressively and the audience is caught up with a sense of achievement and hope. It was with dismay that it was reported after the film's release that Gennaro and others of the staff had been dismissed - the authorities not being in agreement with their therapy. Romaine, who talks about her love for Chris and relationship with him, was also separated from him after the making of the film. It is a sad postscript to what is an excellent humane experience.
1. How well did the film deserve its acclaim, awards? The United Nations official film for the International Year of the Disabled?
2. The documentary quality of the film: reporting, information, presenting a situation and characters to an audience for reflection? The dramatising of the issues? Conclusions drawn by the audience - ideas, emotions, practical work?
3. The quality of the human story: the presentation of the home, the retarded men and women, their institutional way of life, their work in the theatre group, their relating to Aldo, the various rehearsals for the play, the story of Chris and Romaine? The authentic human feeling and values?
4. The title - and such a large step for the retarded men and women? The atmosphere of theatre for them to achieve? To accomplish? An emotional and achievement stepping out?
5. The technical qualities of the film: the presentation of the home, the way of life of the inmates, the variety of rehearsals? The outings - and the buying of the clothes? The relationship between Chris and Romaine, their walk, crossing the street, buying the ice cream? The Opera House sequences? Colour photography, editing? The award for the competence of the film as a film of dance? The musical score and the piano recitals?
6. The structure: the optimistic presentation of the events - the climax in the Opera House and the flashbacks in preparation for it, the intercutting of the achievement with the preparation?
7. Romaine's narrative? Tone of voice, intonation, homely way of speaking, the audience's personal response to her style? Her introducing each of the characters - explaining how long they'd been in the home, age, personal qualities? The relationship with Aldo and his conception of the theatre? Romaine and her relationship with the group, her hopes, achievement? The audience response to seeing Chris and Romaine together? Her reflections on her love for Chris, dependence on him, the possibilities of marriage and family? Romaine as a character? The feminine touch? Her perceptiveness, encouragement?
8. Chris and his appearance, age, talent, the quality of his work in rehearsals, sensitivity, dancing skills, mime? The outings to buy the clothes? His response to Romaine - the walk, the ice creams? Her encouraging him at the Opera House? His achievement and the applause of the audience for him?
9. The range of other characters - in the home, watching the television, at rehearsals, at the buying outings, their parts in the concert?
10. Aldo and his background from Chile, playwriting, empathy, patience in training, relating to all, the support of the staff, his outings for the clothes, patience with Chris, nerves on the opening night, his dress as a wizard, and its symbolism? The acclaim?
11. The presentation of the home,, the institutional side of life, room and corridors, the men and women growing up together - and being children there, adolescents, growing old there? Watching television? The bus ride to the Opera House?
12. The Opera House crowds, the acclaim? The filming of the concert and the sense of theatre and achievement? The backstage sequences?
13. The film's contribution to discussions about the quality of human life? The disability of retardation yet the possibility of human fulfilment? What is essential to human life? Incapacity of the brain - but development of sensitivity? Love, relationships? Limitations in the future?
14. Creativity in the theatre has a way of opening up personality and developing it?
15. A film of hope for those who are able as well as those who are disabled?
