THE TENTH CIRCLE

Canada, 2008, 100 minutes, Colour.
Kelly Preston, Ron Eldard, Britt Robertson, Jamie Johnston.
Directed by Peter Markle.

This is a telemovie which would be interesting for parents and teenage girls, especially, to see and to discuss. It is filled with a message and a warning.

Britt Robertson features as a 15-year-old girl, a good reputation, infatuated with one of the jocks at school, confiding in her friend. The friend wants Trixie to branch out, taking to a party where there is alcohol as well as date rape drugs. She wants to make the jock jealous because he has broken off with her and seems to go along with his sexual advances. The story then cuts to the aftermath and her claiming she was raped, going to the police, medically and psychologically examined in some detail, her father trying to support her.

As the story progresses, it appears that Trixie is not as innocent as she claimed and tells some lies. The boy proclaims his innocence. it is suggested that there was a date rape drug which has affected Trixie’s memory.

Her father, Ron Eldard, a designer of graphic comics, supports her. Her mother, Kelly Preston, was absent on the night because she was in an affair with one of her students. As the investigation continues, the officer in charge (his own child had overdosed) and other officers and lawyers examine the case thoroughly.

After a fight in the street with Trixie’s father, Jason falls into the river and dies, the father taking the blame, thinking his daughter had struggled with Jason – but it is with Trixie’s mother that the clash occurred and the death.

Issues of teenage sexuality, drinking and drug taking and promiscuity are examined in this made-for-television movie.

1. The impact of the film as a telemovie? Characters, themes, issues of rape, reality, the law?

2. The American homes, school, the streets, police headquarters? The opening with the river, the bridge over the river, the tragic events there? Musical score?

3. Laura, her lectures on The Divine Comedy, the various circles in Hell? Who were the inhabitants of the tenth Circle? The device of having the students pose in freeze, the two minutes, the nature of eternity?

4. The presentation of the family, the father as the artist of graphic novels, working at home, his staying at home when his daughter was young? Laura, her lectures, relationship with the students? The revelation of the affair? Trixie, aged 15, seemingly young and innocent? Life at home, communication, meals?

5. Trixie at school, the relationship with Jason, his breaking with her in the corridor, the other girl? Trixie, her grief, her girlfriend and advice? The humiliation? Later going out, to the party, her friends urging her on, provocation, wanting to make Jason jealous, the drinking, drugs, the date rape drug, Trixie’s memory, going upstairs with Jason, his advances? Not seeing the full episode until the end?

6. The effect, Trixie going home, telling her father, unable to contact Laura? The father and his reaction going to the police?

7. The detailed interrogation by the police, the intimate details, Trixie’s embarrassment shame, her father listening? The details of the medical examination? Trixie agreeing, scream and fear? Samples, examination, evaluation? Laura and her arriving, her embarrassment? Trixie back at home, her father’s care for her, her asking her mother where she was?

8. Trixie going back to school, the treatment, the students laughing at her, the class about dreams, asking her questions? Jason and his attitude? The circulating of the images on the students’ phones?

9. The police, the head doing his work, his daughter dying of an overdose? His discussions with the lawyers, fellow police? The lies? Trixie and her credibility or not?

10. Further complexities of Trixie’s personality, age, telling the truth about and lying?

11. Jason, his friends, his declarations of the truth, memories of the evening, confronting Trixie? The father seeing him in the street, the fight, Jason going to the bridge? His death? The father going to the police, taking the blame, thinking Trixie had pushed Jason?

12. The police, the investigation, the blood on the bridge, the blood tests and sampling?

13. The father, the discovery of his killing someone in the past, his explanations? The audience thinking that he would get a prison?

14. Laura, going to the police, her finding Jason, the struggle, his death? The flashbacks?

15. The complexity of the ending? The blame on Jason? The blame for Trixie?

16. The film as a salutary tale?