EVIL ANGELS (A CRY IN THE DARK)

Australia, 1988, 122 minutes, Colour.
Meryl Streep, Sam Neill, Charles Tingwell, Bruce Myles, Lewis Fitzgerald, Sandy Gore, Kevin Miles, Debora Lee- Furness, Nick Tate, Kim Gyngell.
Directed by Fred Schepisi.

Evil Angels is an excellent film about the Chamberlain case and the Chamberlains themselves. It was adapted by Robert Carswell (Scales of Justice) from the celebrated book by journalist, John Bryson. Director Fred Schepisi helped in the adaptation.

The film takes a point of view in favour of the Chamberlains and makes an excellent case for believing them. It is highly critical of the Australian media and its attitude towards the Chamberlains and sensationalising the case. It is highly critical of Australian society: it uses a chorus effect throughout the film of various typical Australian groups commenting on the case, as well as the chains of rumour which fuelled Australian opinion.

Meryl Streep is entirely credible as Lindy Chamberlain and parallels her changes and her appearance over the years of the case. Sam Neill embodies Michael Chamberlain. There is an excellent and large Australian supporting cast in the key roles.

The film uses Australian locations excellently: Mt Isa, Alice Springs and Darwin, The Rock itself. However, the film also is highly dramatic in the relationship between Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, the effect on them of the death of Azaria. The build-up to inquests and finally the court case as well as the imprisonment.

It is of interest that the Seventh Day Adventist church emerges most honourably from the film - and the screenplay indicates Australian wariness of such fringe churches.

Fred Schepisi continues his run of excellent films: Devil's Playground, Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Roxanne.

1. The acclaim for the film, nomination for awards, awards? The unanimously favourable reviews?

2. The use of Panavision photography, the locations; Mt Isa, The Northern Territory, Avondale? The use of inserts of Australian characters throughout the land commenting on the case? The interiors, especially the courtroom? Editing and pace? The musical score - and echoes of aboriginal themes?

3. The title, reference to Adventist hymns, Bryson's book (the American title: A Cry in the Dark)?

4. How important was audience knowledge of the case, the facts, the personalities, the inquest and its outcome, the trial and its outcome?

5. Australian judgments of Lindy Chamberlain? The evidence, the sources of opinions? The appeals? Quashing of the conviction? The pardon?

6. The nature of hearsay and opinion, prejudice? Concerning the Adventists? The attitudes of the media and their portrayal? Critique of the media? The effect of seeing the cross-section of people and their comments, fights? The origins of opinions? And their effect?

7. The presentation of the media: the journalist from 'Woman's Day' and the later criticism? The interviews with Michael on ABC radio after the death? Television and the hovering helicopters? The media bosses and their decisions, editing? The stories and the hype? Lindy Chamberlain's attempts to right the situation, making it worse? The hounding of the Chamberlains, the bigotry, the interviews? The behaviour of the press room during the trial, the bets? Cynical attitudes and jokes? The final image of the film with the press still hounding them?

8. The initial setting of the scene: Mt Isa and the Australian atmosphere, the truckie and his criticism of the Adventists? The Adventists and their bonds? The Chamberlains as a family, ordinary, Michael and his work: against smoking and the cigarette coffin?

9. Preparation for the holidays? Explanations to the boys? Lindy and the church? The joy in Azaria, her baptism? The photos? The comments on the clothes?

10. 1980 and Ayers Rock and its mystique, the aborigines, the holiday, the neighbours and their trying to guess Michael's profession, the photo taking, the stalking of the dingoes, the talk around the barbecues? The re-creation of the disappearance of Azaria: the speed and the time, Regan and the beans, the baby (and the later memories and the visualising of the scene again)?

11. The initial anxiety, the search, the lights, the torch, the police? Michael's prayer and thanks? The next morning, the motel, tensions, the boys, the nurse? The radio and the beginning of public interest in the case? Television? The search, the aborigines and their help, going to shoot the dogs? Lindy asking them not to shoot the aborigines' dogs?

12. The return home, the church, sadness, the people helping? Preparing to go to Avondale? The arrival of the police, their manner, the search? Michael away and Lindy going on television? The journalist from Woman's Day?

13. The work of the police, their suspicions, the planning of the raids? Timed interviews all around Australia with the people from the Rock? Lindy's attitude towards the police? Michael's? The build-up to the inquest? Mr Barratt and the questions, the police? His broadcasting his summation and verdict over Australian television? The police reaction (even to criticising his religion)? The impact of the verdict?

14. The continued police work, the calling in of experts, Professor Cameron from London, the follow-up, Australian expectations roused?

15. The build-up to the arrest, the trial dates, the question about Lindy's pregnancy and her decision for freedom of choice in case she was imprisoned and her last chance to have a baby? Their not wanting the dramatic timing? Going to Darwin, not staying at the motel, the prying press, even to her going to the toilet? The tricks to avoid the press? Her wardrobe? Hot and cold?

16. Justice Muirhead and the conduct of the trial? The prosecution and defence lawyers and their skills? Interrogations, insinuations? The grounds of prosecution and defence? Stewart Tipple and his continued help? The witnesses and their evidence, Professor Cameron - and the attempts to discredit him? Joy Kuhl and her tests, evidence? Lindy's criticism of her eye-fluttering manner? The audience listening to the pros and cons of the evidence? The press in their own room watching and criticising, commenting?

17. Meryl Streep's portrayal of Lindy Chamberlain: the ordinary woman, mother, Adventist, relationship with Michael and the children, coping, sardonic wit? With the police inspector and her comments on her innocence and her attributing intelligent murder to her? The inquest and its effect? The scenes with Michael at the motel at Ayers Rock, praying, reading? The discussion about the child? Not complying with public opinion? Going to Darwin, pregnant, the clothes? Her answers in the trial, her criticisms of Joy Kuhl and the others? The lawyers trying to persuade her to act with calm presence and her decision not to? The verdict? The effect on her, talking of a divorce from Michael? Going to prison, the birth of Kahlia and the effect on her? At work in the prison, the other prisoners, the aboriginal women? The visits of the family? Her eventual release, the return to Avondale, the greeting to Kahlia? The end and the hymn in the church? The postscript and the vindication?

18. Sam Neill as Michael: an earnest and religious man, his work, hopes, the holiday? His photography? Discussions about his profession with the tourists? A nervous man, his interior angers? Reaction about the press? Tensions with Lindy? The reliance on prayer and scripture? The effect of the inquest, the discussions about another child? His tension at the trial, a poor witness and nervous, scratching his head and its, bleeding? Despair? His relationship with his wife? her going to prison, present at the birth of the child?, the child being taken away an hour after its birth? Minding the children during their mother's absence, his religion, their help? With Lindy at the end, vindication of trust?

19. The portrait of the children, the two boys, their devotion to Azaria, the impact of her death, Lindy having to take Reagan next door to see the baby to make sure it hadn't disappeared? The birth of Kahlia, her growing up, without her mother, her going to her mother at the end?

20. The film's comment on Australian justice and its administration: the conduct of the inquest and the verdict, public opinion and prejudice, the build-up to the trial, the appeals, the Morling report, the postscript of the 1988 decisions? The question of the burden of proof, the matinee jacket - and the sequence of the dead tourist and the finding of the matinee jacket? Lindy's assertions about it, the Attorney General of the Northern Territory and his grounds for releasing Lindy? The film's comment on experts and the examination of forensic evidence?

21. Australian response to the film - the jolt to Australian conscience and consciousness? portrayal of characters, situations, themes?