EVERY MOVE SHE MAKES
Australia, 1984, 90 minutes, Colour.
Julie Nhill, James Laurie.
Directed by Catherine Millar.
Every Move She Makes is one of a series of telemovies made by the A.B.C. in 1983-84. It relies on performance and atmospherics rather than on a persuasive plot. A girl from the country is harassed by a fellow-worker who is obsessive about her. It ruins her life, leading to violence. The film explores, atmospherically, the relationship between men and women in the Australian context. It highlights the heritage of women as victims and of male assertion.
The film has a Melbourne city setting, well-used. There are sequences in the Arts Centre with an orchestral concert and the direction of Iwaki. Julie Nhill (pictured) is very good in the central role of the harassed girl. She carries the film. It was written and directed by Catherine Millar and shows a feminine sensitivity and sensibility towards male-female relationships.
1. An interesting and entertaining telemovie? observation of men and women, psychological aspects, social aspects? The touches of the thriller?
2. The use of Melbourne locations? Authentic? Work, Arts Centre, streets, the courts? The characters within this authentic setting?
3. The film sustained by Julie Nhill's performance? Appearance, presence? Pleasant and earnest, naive. from the country? Her nervousness? The strong performance? The contrast with Doug Bowles' understated menace as Matthew - both frightening as well as somewhat stupid?
4. The credibility of the plot: the country girl coming to the city, her desires to succeed in the city in her work, her training in Warragul, enjoying her work, harassed by Matthew. her variety of reactions, disbelief, annoyance, nerviness? Her strength in withstanding him? Her ability to cope - but its being frayed? Matthew's continual presence, at work, following her, his presumptions in inviting her to his family and explaining their relationship? The growing oppressiveness? odd behaviour, the court case, the final outburst?
5. The details of Julie's character: the long opening with the shower and her getting ready to go out? The sensual background to help the audience appreciate Matthew's attitude towards her and watching her? Her ability with her work? Outings, friends? Her skill in her work? Her flatting and her friend? The initial encounters with Matthew, his odd presence and his inviting her to play the video game, his putting pressure on her to go out, taking her to his family, her sister's impertinent questions, the concert, the underpass and his approach to her and her running? The build-up of tension between the two? His consistent phone calls, his watching the house - having the dogs follow? His expression of live, his hurt, the platonic tone? The gradual effect on Julie’s nerves? Her driving and seeing Matthew. the car-chase, the police? Matthew's break-in? The party and her exasperation with him? The reaction of her friends - the flatmate being away, Andrew's support, his hitting Matthew? Her life, its pace, the detail ~ for instance, her clothes? A credible portrait of this kind of girl?
6. The question of Julie and her attractiveness, did she lead Matthew on? The importance of the sensuous sequences, the bath etc.? The comment on the swing and its being erotic? Matthew lured and luring? Andrew and his kiss? Matthew's reaction - comments on it being dirty and forgiving her?
7. The flatmate and the apprehensions during the night, the dogs? Andrew and his friendship, punching Matthew? Julie's father and his support? The final straw with Matthew following her into the women's toilet, her exposing herself? The decision to go to the court?
8. Matthew as a credible character, at work, silent and reserved, shy? Watching Julie, following her? The video game, the concert, the visit home, the phone calls, the pass at her after the concert, his getting the sack, the car-chase, the police and their interrogation? His entering the house? His comment on Andrew's behaviour, Andrew punching him, how well did the film explain his obsessiveness? The court case and his breaking down in the witness stand?
9. Julie's support and her flatmate being interrogated - and the circumstantial evidence against Julie, the same with Andrew?
10. Julie's father and his support? How well did he understand what had happened?
11. Julie and her stances? Her employer and his sacking Matthew -but blaming Julie for what had happened? The effect of the loss of the court case on her? Her nerves and the violence of the ending with Andrew as victim?
12. The plausibility of the ending - anti-climax for the film?
13. A portrait of men and women in the contemporary Australian city, sexual harassment, women as victims, the place of employers and their attitudes, the law?
