ESCAPE
US, 1980, 100 minutes, Colour.
Timothy Bottoms, Colleen Dewhurst, Kay Lenz.
Directed by Robert Michael Lewis.
Escape is an action, prison story reminiscent of Alan Parker's Midnight Express. It focuses on a young man, caught transporting drugs and imprisoned in a notorious prison. It is based on fact - and the prison has since been closed, with some of those in responsibility imprisoned on corruption charges.
Timothy Bottoms is quite effective as Dwight Worker, who becomes a victim in the prison and who escapes quite daringly. The escape sequences are quite tense. Kay Lenz portrays his girlfriend and Colleen Dewhurst gives her usual strong, maternal support as a friend.
The film re-creates the atmosphere of a Mexican prison and dramatise for the audience the oppression of such prisons.
1. Interesting story? Based on fact? The situation, character, the escape?
2. The film as a telemovie, for a wide audience? Location photography, the atmosphere of the prison, Mexico? The lyrical aspects of the United States at the end? Atmospheric musical score?
3. The title, the focus on the imprisonment, the oppression, the preparation for the escape and its execution?. The feelings of relief and freedom?
4. The focus on prisons, prison sentences, oppression, isolation, prisoners rights, the guards, those in responsibility? Representations to American authorities to help American citizens in prison? Deals? The possibilities for escape?
5. Dwight Worker and his situation, average citizen, the drugs, his arrest, imprisonment? Representation to-the American Consulate? His imprisonment, sentence? Details of his life in prison? The relationship with Barbara, with Gabrielle? The friendship with Lily and her support? Relationship with the authorities, the guards? His friendship with Jaime? The oppression, the visits, the relationship with Barbara? Representations and Lily's interventions? The build-up to the need; for escaping? The elaboration of the plan? The film's attention to detail about entering, documents demanded, supervision, leaving? Dwight's growing his beard and the reaction? His use of macho arguments to persuade the authorities to keep the beard? The immediate transfer to another prison and his need for escape? The background to the wedding - and the macho persuasion of the authorities? The immediate preparation for the escape, his dressing as a woman, his being able to mingle with the crowd, his slow and measured way of moving out? Barbara's waiting? The final sequences on the beach? The justice of Dwight's imprisonment, treatment, the escape itself?
6. Barbara and her relationship with Dwight. the visits, the wedding ceremony, Gabrielle and her care for her? Dwight's love for Gabrielle? Getting the documents. participation in the escape. the taxi, waiting for Dwight to emerge?
7. Lily and her residing in Mexico, help for American citizens, strong and motherly? Friendship with-,Barbara? The visits, the preparation for the escape? Her own participation and help?
8. Jack Branch and the American authorities, interest, judgment on drug dealers and smugglers?
9. Jaime and his friendship, Jack's support in the prison, the bond between the two? His being aware of Dwight's escape, gathering the attention of the guards and helping him? His subsequent history?
10. The value of this kind of human drama, experiencing the reality of imprisonment and the need to escape? Issues of justice and law?
