THE FIRST FAGIN

Australia, 2013, 87 minutes, Colour.
Ryk Goddard, Carrie Mc Lean. Interviews with Allison Alexander, Trudy Cowley, Pete Hay, Janet Mc Calman. Narration by Miriam Margolyes.
Directed by Helen Gaynor, Alan Rosenthal.

The First Fagin is an interesting documentary-drama. Many Australian audiences would have heard something of Isaac “Ikey� Solomon and his detention in Van Dieman’s Land. But here is the opportunity to learn something about the background of justice in Britain at the time, transportation, and the actual story of the man who seems to have offered some background to Charles Dickens’ Fagin in Oliver Twist.

There is a great deal of drama throughout the film, the re-enactment of many scenes in the life of Solomon, his wife and family, of society in Britain, the harsh administration of justice. Ryk Goddard is intense as Ikey, in the drama, talking directly to camera about himself. Carrie Mc Lean, who is only acting credit is this film, is his devoted and stoic wife, until a relationship with the policeman in Van Dieman’s Land.

A great deal of attention has been given to the set design for the recreation of the period.

Several historians contribute talking head information and perspectives on the characters and situations. Their interventions are judiciously spaced throughout the film. And there is narration by Miriam Margolyes.

Ikey Solomon did not like Oliver Twist or Dickens using of something this background and his trial for the creation of Fagin.

The film is very interesting in its information, in its historical background, in its portrait of Isaac Solomon, his wife and family.

1. The title, the focus on Dickens’ character, the real-life Isaac, Ikey, Solomon? Solomon as the first Fagin?

2. An interesting documentary, portrait of Solomon and his wife, his life of crime, imprisonment, escape, rehabilitation, trip to the United States, travelling to Van Dieman’s Land, reuniting with his wife and family, his arrest, return to Britain, last years in Van Dieman’s Land?

3. The screenplay, sympathy for Solomon, his crimes, initial pickpocketing, the experience of prison, his becoming semi-respectable, not being a thief, receiver of stolen goods? His experience of marriage, family, the participation of his wife in his business? Prison, escape? His speaking directly to camera?

4. The range of talking heads, expertise, explanation of the social situations of the early 19th century, post-Napoleonic wars, military and navy personnel in London without work, crime, theft, the role of the police, the nature of British prisons, paying off the guards? Situations of justice and its administration? Prisons, executions, transportation? The sequences of court cases and condemnations?

5. The talking heads and their explanations of Ikey Solomon, his Jewish background and the visualising of his wedding, the rabbi, the Hebrew texts – and the end of the story with Ikey and his synagogue and the rabbi in Van Dieman’s Land? Anti-Semitic? prejudice in Britain at the time? Spittelfield and the Jewish community?

6. The influence of Dickens? His being seen transcribing notes at Solomon’s trial? The writing of Oliver Twist? The public and the interest in Ikey, his becoming something of cause celebre? The character of Fagin? Ikey and his reaction to the novel, his dislike of Fagin?

7. Ikey as a person, personality, explanation of his background, his skill in pickpocketing, his accomplice, the locked gate, the arrest, in prison, six years, his unexpected release, giving himself up, his pardon, his marriage and children, the return to Anne and her faithfulness, his determination to be rich, setting up the house, the scenes of his receiving stolen goods, his declaration that he was fair and just in the dealings? Giving the money to the man who needed a coat? The raid on his house, his imprisonment, engineering the escape? His going to New York?

8. Anne, marriage, the children, faithful, sharing her husband’s business? Benjamin and the set up with the watch and the trap, to save his father? Anne in prison, sentenced to Van Dieman’s Land? Her experience there, as a maid, the demands of Mrs Newman, dislike, the children coming, some times of happiness with them? Ikey and his travelling from New York to Van Dieman’s Land? The family being together?

9. Governor Arthur, harsh attitudes, towards the aboriginal people, strict administration of justice, reading the pamphlet about Ikey, wanting to get him, the opinion of the attorney general, correspondence from Britain, getting his way? The trial, the defence, but the exorbitant bail?

10. The trial in England, Dickens and his presence, not guilty as regards the charges of theft, guilty as regards receiving the stolen goods? His return to Van Dieman’s Land? New Norfolk, in Richmond, Port Arthur?

11. The rumours about Anne, Ikey, his angry accusations? His son defying him? Anne standing by him? His daughter’s wedding, the outburst against the policeman and his accusations?

12. Anne, her suffering in the Cascades prison, the return? Ikey in the last years of his life? Restricted? The synagogue and the rabbi?

13. An interesting character portrait, insight into British justice and its administration in those times?