THE BROKEN SHORE
Australia, 2014, 100 minutes, Colour.
Don Haney, Claudia Carvin, Anthony Hayes, Eric Thompson, Wayne Blair, Tony Briggs, Robyn Nevin, Noni Hazelhurst, Catherine Mc Clements, Dan Wylie, Ralph Cotterill.
Directed by Rowan Woods.
The Broken Shore is a very well-made and interesting telemovie based on the award-winning novel by Peter Temple. The ABC had made two telemovies of Peter Temple’s Jack Irish series, Bad Debts and Black Tide, with Guy Pearce in the central role. A further Jack Irish film was screened in 2014.
Peter Temple has a reputation for well-written thrillers, police investigations, political investigations. With The Broken Shore, Temple has taken on a great number of issues. There is the basic police work and police corruption, the role of the authorities in Melbourne and their influence on regional investigations, along with political influence. The issues of aborigines in country towns, racial prejudice… are also important for the story. However, there is the topical focus on sexual abuse, in the light of the Royal Commission of 2013-2014. The novel came from the early part of the 2000s anticipating a lot of the revelations about sexual abuse, the effect on the victims, the viciousness of this revenge on the perpetrators.
Don Haney had appeared in the number of television series, including Sernagoon Road. This was a key performance for his career. He was soon to appear with Hugo Weaving in Healing. Claudia Karvan has had a long career in film and television. One of the great strengths of the film is the supporting cast, with a number of acting veterans including Robyn Nevin, Noni Hazelhurst, Catherine McClements? all very persuasive in their roles. Anthony Hayes and Dan Wylie also contribute well.
The film was directed by Rowan Woods, director of The Boys and of Little Fish.
The film also relies strongly on the cinematography, the atmosphere of the locations, the isolated town, the coast of the cliffs, the port.
All in all, a superior television film.
1. The reputation and popularity of Peter Temple? Australian stories? Victorian stories? The police, politics, race issues, sexual abuse? The blend of these themes?
2. The Victorian setting, the feel, towns and the detail, streets, the port, the aboriginal area? The countryside, the coast, the cliffs? The title? The musical score?
3. Joe, as a character, the glimpses of his mother, his visits and conversations, his brother and his affluence, sexual orientation, architect, Sydney? The contrast with Joe? The memories of his father, the drowning? The bonds with his father, lost? His work, the accident, his partner dying, his recovery, his memories and nightmares? Being on call? Dave arriving, the complaint, the job, the defence? The meeting with Helen? The bluestone house? His life and the house? His memories, family? His job, the aboriginal girl, the cousins…?
4. Being on call, the murder, the authorities asking him to intervene, Hancock and his assistant, then manner, interventions? Cromarty, the police and their stances, jurisdictions, apologies? Helen and her job, the clash, the protest, the crowds? Anti-the development? The officer and his assistant? The pots? The documents?
5. Burgoyne, the house, the old man, the scene of the fire, the priest leaving, the children, the deaths, 1983? The old man in the house, the noise, the attack and the brutality of his death? His son and his disappearance? His daughter, her visit, attitude towards her father? Suspicions of aborigines and robbery?
6. The aborigines, in the neighbourhood, their own area? Watching the issue? The driving? Going to Melbourne? The group returning? The issue of the watch? Paul and his job, reactions? Whites and blacks? The plan for the men in the car, the orders, waiting, the attack, guns and the chase, the crash, the deaths? Walsh and his place in the Senate? The political ramifications? His speeches?
7. The interrogations, Donnie? Helen? The mother? Bail issues? Orders, the alibi? The young man being murdered?
8. Hancock, his arrogance, collaboration, refusing, the archives, his being paid? The exposé and his transfer?
9. Helen, her character, work, the issue of the fence, Dave, her complaint, the sudden kiss, the memories of the past? Her story? Talking, the injury, the sexual encounter, the tree? The relationship with Joe? The future?
10. Orders from Melbourne, the police authority, Parliament and the minister, Joe going to Melbourne, staying, the discussions with his boss? The cover for his work?
11. Paul, his status, aboriginal, help, the interviews, surveillance, the critique? His being bashed?
12. Sheila, keeping the accounts, an interesting character, working for Burgoyne over the years, her description of him? With Joe, the requests, searching for the documents, finding them, dates and names, the key address in North Melbourne?
13. Environmental issues, sales of properties, the meetings?
14. Joe seeking the address, North Melbourne, finding the theatre, the search, the documents, the videos, watching them? The daughter and her brother, protecting each other, the truth? The daughter not warning her father? The role of the gardener, his son and his disabilities, the documents and his getting the information to Joe?
15. Des Singleton, his reputation as a policeman, in the old people’s home, Joe’s visit, the clue CB 83, the lead? The discovery of the truth? Singleton turning a blind eye and his financial reward?
16. The perpetrators, the brutality of their deaths? Finding the abuses, their deaths? The priest?
17. The priest, the Royal commission of 2013-14 and its atmosphere, confronting him, his fear, his being bashed, Burgoyne’s son? The attack on Joe and
Paul? The brutality of the torture of the priest? The killers and their actions?
18. Joe, recovery, the shooting, Paul going back to Melbourne, staying alert?
19. The range of issues, a prosperous society, the aboriginal issues, and the underbelly of life in Australia?
