TOTAL CONTROL
Australia, 2019, 300 minutes, Colour.
Deborah Mailman, Rachel Griffiths, Harry Richardson, Rob Collins, Celia Ireland, Wesley Patton, Huw Higginson, David Roberts, Shantae Barnes- Cowan, James Sweeney, Anthony Hayes, Aaron Pedersen, William Mc Innes, Trisha Morton- Thomas, Sasha Horler, Tony Barry.
Directed by Rachel Perkins.
A six-part limited series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series was well received and nominated for many local awards, winning for Deborah Mailman and her striking performance.
On the one hand, the film was shot in outback Queensland, the town of Winton, bringing it to life with overviews and details of homes, streets, shops, the aboriginal community. This comes to the fore when an American request to establish a base there has to be considered in the light of Native Title, Deborah Mailman, as Alex Irving, having to chair the meetings, bring disputing groups together.
On the other hand, this is a film about Canberra and Parliament. After Alex is seen confronting a shooter and staring him down, she is taken up by the media, comes the attention of the Prime Minister (Rachel Griffiths) who is facing an election and wants to shore up support after the death of a Senator. She sends her assistant, Jonathan (Harry Richardson) to negotiate with Alex. He is out of his depth and fails. The Prime Minister herself comes to make her case and persuades Alex to go to Canberra, and asks her to negotiate the native title issue. However, there are all kinds of double dealings, factions in the coalition room, challenges to the Prime Minister, backing down on agreements.
In the meantime, there is an episode in the Northern Territory detention centre, a young girl with asthma having an attack after taunting the police and their throwing into the cell a smoke bomb. Her companion has filmed everything, escapes, makes her way to Canberra to plead the cause, experiencing difficulties, wanting to contact Alex. This eventually happens and there is controversy, police intervention, the minister eventually having to resign and taken by the police.
In the meantime, Alex experiences dissolutionment, has discussions with the leader of the opposition (William McInnes) and is instrumental in the defeat of the Prime Minister.
The film is well written, excellently acted, directed by veteran Rachel Perkins (who first directed Deborah Mailman in Radiance in 1998).
1. The title? With reference to Alex? Political power, power control, Alex and control of herself? In the experience of challenging and bucking control?
2. The Winton settings, the outback town, the surrounding desert, homes, streets, shops, the aboriginal community? The surrounding countryside? Atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The contrast with the ACT, the city of Canberra, Parliament house, exteriors, interiors of the old Parliament house, the corridors, offices, chambers?
4. Alex, a character, background, military? In Winton? Witnessing the attack, confronting the man, his backing down, shooting himself? The media response to her? The treatment? In life, unmarried, bringing up her son, her devotion to her mother, the extended family, her brother and his work in the city at the University? The relationship with Tom, his wife and family? Aspects of Winton life? Respect for her? The social standing?
5. The Prime Minister, a woman, the coalition? Her close adviser and his continual presence? The party turmoil, the impending election? Her plans, the death of the senator, replacing him with Alex? Damian and his rivalry for leadership of the party, his denials but his plotting? The range of advisers? The ministers, the Minister for aboriginal affairs? The factions? The ministers and their staffs? The family background of the Prime Minister and her father in care?
6. Jonathan, young, ambitious, his career, being sent to Winton, his difficulty in dealing with Alex and Winton? The prime minister coming to Winton, the discussions with Alex, persuading her to go to Canberra?
7. Alex, her son and mother, the decision to go to Canberra, to do good? The corridors, her being overwhelmed, her office, the discussions with the Prime Minister? Jonathan as her assistant, the initial clashes, tension, the gradual coming to rely on him? The staff of the previous Minister, their loyalties? The details of office life?
8. Alex, the strong character of her mother, her mother encouraging her, her care for her brother, the rivalries in comparison? His city life, academic? His coming to her maiden speech, walking out? Her writing a strong speech? Jonathan insisting that she use his speech, her capitulation?
9. The shift to the Northern Territory, the detention centre, the young girls, taunting the police, the gas, the girl and her asthma, the plea for help, her death? Jess, her background, her helping the girl, filming everything? Her escape? The official report, the cover-up? The minister and the press conferences, his perpetuating the cover-up? The challenge from Alex? Her pursuing the case, getting Jonathan to help, the members of the staff and getting the information?
10. Jess, her travelling, the people helping her, the attack in the pool and her bashing the man, the media targeting her for her violence? Getting to Canberra? Trying to make contact with Alex? Alex's mother and her death, Alex away from Canberra? Jess disillusioned? The second contact, Jonathan going to meet her, under the bridge, her fears? Meeting the girl from Sydney, bonding, going to Sydney? Alexâ's visit, asking for trust, the camera and the video footage?
11. Queensland, the American base, American- Australian political relationships? The base, native title? Alex and the Prime Minister, the bargaining, the Prime Minister's pledges? The hostility of Damian and the Nationals? Alex going to Winton, the difficulties, Jonathan present, the visits to the members of the aboriginal community? The elders? The clashes, Tom and his role, her mother encouraging Alex? Going to the meetings, the discussions, the presence of the lawyers and their demands? Negotiations? Tripe hostilities? The failure of the meeting? Alex trying again, going to the leading Elder, her coming to the meeting? The deal? Returning to Canberra?
12. Her mother, her death, Alex returning, the Prime Minister delaying her? The difficulties with the weather, the storms, late for her mother's death? The family, the interactions with her brother? Meeting Tom, the sexual relationship? Tom's wife, her hostility towards Alex, the later phone call for Alex’s help?
13. The anger in Winton, gathering, media, Alex inciting Tom to start the fire?
14. Canberra, the doubletalk, the Prime Minister and her adviser, the negotiations with the Minister for aboriginal affairs, his promotion, his staff? The challenge, the Prime Minister asking Alex to stay? The Parliamentary sitting, the Prime Minister and her backdown?
15. Jonathan, his career, his loyalties, the Minister, the secretary, gay orientation, the attraction, the affair? Jonathan getting information from his partner, using him? The opportunity for promotion? Alex in the office, the Press Secretary betraying Alex and giving the information, the motherly secretary and her support? The police interventions, Alex and discussions with Jess's friend, the police intervention and Alex's arrest?
16. Discussions with the leader of the opposition, his office, the discussions?
17. The confidence of the Prime Minister, Alex and her crossing the floor, the Parliamentary session, the prime minister shock? The challenge? Her being defeated? The discussions and confrontations with Alex?
18. Alex and her future, staying in Parliament, control, learning about deals and manipulation, wanting to do good, able to compromise, the issue of native rights, Jess's case, the downfall of the minister because of his cover-up? Her achievement?
