MY HUSBAND, MY KILLER
Australia, 2001, 95 minutes, Colour.
Colin Friels, Martin Sacks, David Field, Geoff Morrell, Chris Haywood, Craig Mc Lachlan, Lucy Bell, Tara Morice, Zoe Carides, Linda Cropper.
Directed by Peter Andrikidis.
My Husband, My Killer is based on facts, a crime of murder, the arrest of a Sydney businessman, Andrew Kalajzich, and his imprisonment for the murder of his wife. The film focuses, however, on the police and the work of Detective Bob Inkster, who received decorations after his investigation of this case.
The film also focuses on the police work, the nature of the investigation and the following of clues rather than details about the murder itself. However, there are sufficient graphic presentations of the murder and the body of Megan Kalajzich, to remind audiences of the gravity of the crime. Kalajzich himself did not commit the crime, asked his security assistant, Warren Elkins (Craig Mc Lachlan) to organise a hit man. There were mix-ups and an amateur tried several times to kill Mrs Kalajzich, ultimately succeeding.
Chris Haywood has a good role as the criminal hit man who was approached to do the job, kept some of the money, found that somebody else did the job, reported to the police, was wired and enabled the police to get information. He was paid a great deal – and didn't go to jail.
The standout is David Field as Bill Vandenberg, the man who actually did the murder. He is a timid kind of man, strangely accepting the commission to do the murder, botching it several times. He has some very good scenes while being interrogated by Bob Inkster, his ultimate confession – and his hanging himself in prison after giving testimony.
The film is a star vehicle for Colin Friels, well-versed in police and detective series like the Blackjack series and Water Rats. He brings his own intensity, especially with close-ups, as he listens to Kalajzich. Martin Sacks is also very good as the enigmatic Kalajzich. Lucy Bell is his secretary and mistress, Tara Morice is Mrs Inkster, Zoe Carides has a good role as a former girlfriend of Kalajzich who gives evidence, Linda Cropper is Megan Kalajzich. Geoff Morrell is also good as Inkster’s assistant.
The film is well-written by Greg Haddrick, veteran writer of many series like Underbelly as well as crime thrillers like The Society Murders. Direction is by Peter Andrikidis who has had a prolific career in television since the early 1980s.
1. The film based on actual events? The perspective of the film? Based on an investigative book? The role of the police and investigation? The crime, the accused?
2. The film made for television, the Australian audience? International? The parallels with other programs of police investigations, familiar material, well done?
3. A Sydney story, the views of the city and the harbour, the focus on Manly, the locations in Manly? The ordinary world? The luxury hotel? Homes? The police, offices, prisons, the contrast with the countryside? A sense of realism? The musical score?
4. The title, Megan and her introduction, pleasant with people, her wealth, her background? Twenty-three years married? Audience sympathy? The information about her death, the close-ups of her mutilated body? Her appearing in various flashbacks, relationship with her husband, children, the truth about her life? Her not suspecting her husband?
5. Andrew Kalajzich, the audience knowledge that he was guilty of his wife’s murder? The performance of Martin Sacks, convincing? His wife’s death, his rolling out of bed, his fabricated story? His personality? Relationships, his son, pregnant daughter – and the information about the car crash, his surviving, and his willingness to let his wife and son die? His reliance on Warren, his staff, the relationship with Marlene? The past relationship, promises and letters to Lydia? His feigning sadness? The arrest, the interrogations? His support from his parents, the Croatian background and codes of honour? The family meals and silence? People believing he was innocent? Seeing him behind the scenes, the gradual revelation, the affair with Marlene, his letters, going to Croatia? The family and the expectations? A self-made success?
6. The murder, the father and his declaration that a divorce would be shame? The point about paying money to hit men being less than a divorce settlement?
7. Warren, his character, roles, womanising, arrest, the interrogations, keeping silent, the lawyers? The pressure from Kalajzich and Kalajzich despising him? The final interrogation, his breaking, collapse? The deal for a shorter prison sentence?
8. Bob Inkster? Colin Friels’ presence, performance? Good at his job? The family sequences, the children squabbling, the outings, his wife, her advice about questioning Megan’s friends? His suspicions of Kalajzich? The intense close-ups, always watching him, thinking? The theories about what happened, the photos? Following leads? The information from George Cannellis? The drinks with him, his working with Bob Richardson? Persuading George to be taped, his discussions with Bill and the other hit man? His performance and trying to persuade Bill to give the information? Inkster’s discussions with the chief, permits, the arrest? Going to the plane to stare down Kalajzich? Finally following his wife’s advice, interviewing the women friends, their shutting the door in his face? The break with Lydia, the discussions, the letters? The interrogations of Bill, Warren? Trying to break them down? The breakthrough – and the arrest?
9. George, criminal, hit man, lack of moral perspective, keeping the money, giving information to Inkster? The wire? His performance with Bill – pressurising him?
10. Bill, George’s visit, a bespectacled quiet man, his motives for taking on the job, the money, the excitement? The variations on his story, concealing the truth? The pressures on him, the bribe to keep quiet? In the shower, the attempt on his life, his being saved? His decision to tell the truth to Inkster? The fast-forward and his hanging himself?
11. Marlene, her work in the hotel, her devotion to Kalajzich, the affair? Her finally walking away?
12. Kalajzich as a character, self-made, his background, his violence, his wandering eye? His pretence? The aftermath – his sentence, his continued protesting his innocence?
13. The truth of what happened – and the information given at the end of the film?
