TUFF TURF

US, 1985, 112 minutes, Colour.
James Spader, Kim Richards, Matt Clark, Robert Downey Jr.
Directed by Fritz Kiertsch.

Tuff Turf is one of the many youth films of the early '80s. It is a tough film, showing gang behaviour in American cities. However, it is also a film with some sentiment relying on love and family relationships for resolution of problems. The film captures some of the atmosphere of the times - with an exploitation tough style.

The film was directed by Fritz Kiersch who directed the Steven King story Children of the Corn. Better than average for this kind of film.

1. The focus on youth in films of the '80s? Observation and comment? Exploitation?

2. Small budget, city locations, interiors and exteriors, stunt work and action? The range of songs for the period, background?

3. Youth and confrontation? Individuals? Groups? Peer pressure? Friendship? Gangs? Rumance and violence? The assertion of youth?

4. The title and its tone? The emphasis on toughness?

5. The gang of Tuffs and their techniques? The role of Frankie and the set-up for the robbing of businessmen? The bikie and the aerosol spray? Morgan and his intervention with the Tuffs? Friendship with Jimmy? The clashes, Nick and Frankie, the bashing of Murgan? Nicky going to prison? The stealing of the cars? The plan for attacking Mr. Hiller? His being shot? The siege in the liquor,store and the attack on Frankiels father? The warehouse showdown and fights? A portrait of a gang? Realistic or not?

6. Morgan as hero: on his bike, in black, intervening in the robberies, the aerosol technique? Being anti-Tuff? At home, his successful lawyer brother, his parents, his mother's strong stances, a sympathetic father? Their expectations of him? The background of his being expelled from school and their moving? Friendship with Jimmy? The debts, attraction towards Frankie? Friendship with Feather? The intruding in the Country Club - the taking off of the yuppies? The bashing? The meal at home and Frankie's visit? His father's advice, his father's being shot, the hospital sequences, Frankie's grief? The tough, individual hero?

7. Frankie and her role in the robberies, friendship with Nicky, attraction towards Morgan, the trap, the bashing, the meal at Morgan's home and her reaction about her mother's death, her grief for St. Hiller, her not wanting to marry Nicky, the cause of the attack on her father?

8. The portrait of the parents? Family roles, family influence? Obedience? Pressure and expectations? Violence done to the parents because of the children?

9. Frankie's father, wanting her to marry, the danger and the attack?

10. A picture of contemporary American cities, was the film a-mirror, an accurate observation of human problems, the human face of contemporary problems?