DISCLOSURE

Australia, 2020, 85 minutes, Colour.
Mark Leonard Winter, Miranda Ridgway, Geraldine Hakewell, Tom Wren.
Directed by Michael Bentham.

Here is an Australian drama that demands attention and considered discussion. The disclosure is something we might not have expected, a four year old girl tells her mother about what the nine-year-old son of friends and neighbours has done to her.

In many ways, this film is a case-study. And, it is dialogue-driven, and could transfer very easily and powerfully to the stage. The time span of the drama is limited, a visit from one set of parents to the other, words exchanged, anger expressed, hurt on both sides, threats…

The location is an outer suburb of Melbourne, filmed around Fern tree Gully, a comfortable home, grounds, swimming pool. The two couples are friends.

With a focus on sexual, sexualised behaviour, the film opens, during the credits, with one of the couples filming their sexual encounter. We see them naked at their pool. This sets a tone. Then there friends visit, drinks, discussions, and challenges to each of the couples – but, also, challenges to the audience. Are Daniel and Emily (Mark Leonard Winter and Miranda Ridgway) right in believing what their little girl has told them? Should they go to Child Protection? Should they challenge Joel and Beck (Tom Wren and Geraldine have equal) about their own behaviour, the raising of their sons?

The also complications because all has political ambitions – which would be threatened by the name of his son appearing in official documents. Beck, on the other hand, has had harsh experiences in her life, is both assertive and withdrawn, in absolute denial.

Joel has a police escort who looms in the background, seeming somewhat sinister – but not so.

Which means then that the audience shares the emotional experiences of each of the parents. And it means that the audience must listen to the rational arguments put forward by each parent. Which also means that the audience is challenged to ask themselves what would they do in similar circumstances, how much the personal relationships would influence decisions, how much is demanded by the law, child protection, parenting.

Quite a lot to take in and consider in the brief running time.

1. The title? The film as drama? Case study?

2. The title, a four-year-old girl talking to her parents, testimony against a young boy? The impact on each set of parents?

3. The settings, suburbs of Melbourne, comfortable homes, the surroundings, the pool and gardens, the house interiors? The musical score?

4. A dialogue driven film? (Which could easily be adapted for the stage?)

5. The tone of the credits sequence, Emily and Daniel, the sexual experience, being filmed? Setting a tone for sexual behaviour? Parents? The couple at the pool, naked?

6. Daniel and Emily as an ordinary couple, four-year-old daughter, her being away at ballet class with her grandmother? The dialogue about her and her experiences? Her not being seen until the end with the couples in the pool, returning with her grandmother who takes away?

7. Joel and Beck arriving, suddenly, embarrassment? Their minder, Steve, watching and in the background? The touch of the sinister?

8. The friendship between the two couples? Joel and his political background, the prime minister coming to the launch? Their fashionable dress, going to a fundraiser? The contrast with the casual Emily and Daniel? Conversation, friendships?

9. The emerging of the issue, Natasha, age 4, Ethan and Ben, Ethan age 9, the episode, Ethan and the sexual encounter with Natasha, and her experience of him choking her?

10. Girls testimony, the transcript, available? The issue of going to child protection?

11. The intensity of the conversations? Emily and her initial anger? Accusation of Beck in denial? Daniel and is trying to mediate? Joel and the political soon concerned, publicity, his reputation? The changing of moods? Each of the characters having substantial moments to state their viewpoint?

12. Emily, as mother, believing her daughter, horrified, the issue of therapists? Her anger and Beck and Joel, accusing them of denial? Back in the house, her outburst against Daniel? His dismay, trying to reconcile? Emily coming down and returning to the group?

13. Daniel, his friendship with Joel, not wanting to impede his political ambitions? The discussions, possible compromise, names not being on the document for child protection?

14. Joel, the politician, the comment about his computer, available to Ethan, playing computer games? Joel and his addiction to pornography? The tension between him and his wife, sexually? His continued phone calls and commenting on editing documents?

15. Beck, her background, stepbrother, experience of abuse? Tension within the marriage yet supportive of Joel? His ambitions? A love for her sons, continually denying that the events took place? Criticisms of Emily?

16. The heightening of tension is? Beck, going off, looking for the camera, watching the video of the sexual encounter? Copying it? On her phone? Steve seeing her and her being upset? Her return, with the phone, her comments about their behaviour, the availability of this material for their daughter? Emily’s angry reaction, throwing the phone in the pool?

17. Joel, the arguments with Daniel, the breaking of mateship, the possibility of suing, Daniel taking a firmer stands, you’ll criticising lack of safety around the pool? Daniel seeing this as a threat?

18. Stances, threats, blackmailing… The struggle, the phones in the pool, everybody in the pool, the return of Natasha?

19. The camera arising from the group in the pool? Leaving the audience to consider their own reactions to each character, emotionally, in principle, according to the issues, the testimony of the girl, child protection, parents protecting their children? What were the principal decisions to be made and action to be followed?