A KIND OF HUSH

UK, 1999, 96 minutes, Colour.
Harley Smith, Marcella Plunkett, Ben Roberts, Paul Williams, Nathan Constance, Peter Saunders, Mike Fibbins, Roy Hud, Jeannie Drynan.
Directed by Brian Stirner.

A Kind of Hush takes its title from the popular song. It indicates the hush about sex abuse and its effect on children.

This film, while not emphasising violent aspects, shows a group of six young people who have suffered sex abuse and join together to get some revenge on the perpetrators. However, the film focuses on themselves, their personalities, their struggles, especially in relationships.

Harley Smith portrays the leader of the group. Roy Hud and Jeannie Drynan portray the managers of a hotel who act as a kind of parent figure group for the central character and their influence on some of the other members of the group.

The film was based on a play by Brian Stirner, an actor whose only film as director this is.

1.An effective British film? Topical at the time of the revelations about sexual abuse of children? Its British focus? Universal interest? A reflection of the 1990s?

2.The author, as writer, as director? The rage about sexual abuse and its consequences? The impact for the audience?

3.The cast, the mixture of professionals and amateur actors?

4.The title, the song, the irony? The use of other songs throughout the film?

5.The issue of sex abuse, the fact, the revelations, making public the crimes, the issues? The effect and trauma? The perpetrators and freedom?

6.The vigilante response, credible? The audience sharing the attitude? The initial encounter with the man at King’s Cross, Tong’s ‘father’? The pub, the confrontations, weeping, the confession from the vicar?

7.Stu as chef, his work and the workplace, relationship with Beryl? A mother figure? His anger, moods? In his room, his return to work, his pals? The ambivalence, the needs? Kathleen? Joining the group? With Tony? Beryl and the lunch? The outing, the collapse of the chef? The card? His ‘dad’? Issues of sexuality? The sister, the situation, the father? The sex offender and the decision? The house, the files? Mother, confrontation? The kidnapping, the chase? The Fish's death? The arrest, the courts? The chef better? Kathleen and her understanding, together? The burial? The future?

8.The young people, touts, their anger? The skinheads? The group, Tony, Fish, Simon? Their support?

9.Fish, his death, the funeral?

10.The role of chef, Beryl? Their personalities, surrogate parents? Their concern?

11.The importance of the parental roles, the father and the incest? The warehouse and the fight?

12.The criminal world? The influence of the young people?

13.The vigilante attitude, in practice, having to cope, learn? The film as a psychodrama?