DISGRACE
Australia/South Africa, 2009, 114 minutes, Colour.
John Malkovich, Jessica Haines, Eriq Ebouaney, Antoinette Engel, Fiona Press.
Directed by Steve Jacobs.
Based on the Booker Prize winning South African novel by J.M. Coetzee.
Made by husband and wife team, Steve Jacobs, director, and Anna Maria Monticelli, writer, (La Spagnuola), both veteran actors in several Australian films, Disgrace tackles very serious human issues as well as the problems in post-apartheid South Africa. Disgrace was filmed both in South Africa and Australia,
The role of the disgraced English Literature lecturer, David Lurie, who has an affair with a student and is denounced and removed from his job is well suited to John Malkovich. He portrays a rather smug fifty two year old who is tired to teaching uninterested students and who has a history of relationships with his students. This story forms the first act of the film.
The second act shows his decision to retire to the country and live with his daughter, Lucy (Jessica Haines), who manages a property with the help of her black African friend, Petrus (Eric ). Lucy has her own problems which are compounded when she is robbed and raped by three young men who assault her father. He is outraged. She is more restrained. There are tensions between the two as well as with David who is wary of Petrus and betrays, sometimes unwittingly, the racial attitudes of superiority of the past.
By now, it is very clear that Disgrace has a dramatic power in its portrait of the three central characters and sketches others quite forcefully. However, it is also very clear how much the novelist and the film-makers want to provide a commentary on South Africa's 20th century history, how it has affected the white community who cannot presume anymore (which, in some ways, they do), how it has affected the black community with the scarred memories of the past along with unemployment, rising crime and violence amongst the young even as the older generation try to live some peace and reconciliation.
1.The original novel, Booker Prize winner, the reputation of J.M. Coetzee? His insights into South Africa?
2.The adaptation of the novel to the screen, as drama, visual, the three acts?
3.The period, South Africa, its past, changes, the towns, universities, the countryside, the properties? Atmosphere? The austere beauty of the South African landscapes? The musical score?
4.The analogy of the plot for South Africa, its characters, experiencing change? The older generation, assumptions, authority, prejudices? Having to adapt? The surface? The depths? Whites and blacks? The blacks and emerging leadership, owning property, development? The young unemployed, crime, their motivation? Past resentments inherited?
5.The title, as applying to David Lurie? His representing Africa and the past? Trying to change – but often failing?
6.David and his age, his marriage, the sequence talking with his ex-wife? Her understanding of him? His daughter? His relationship with women, the students at the university, race? His lectures, boring? Seeing Melanie, her stumbling, helping her, inviting her for a drink, the meal, at home, her reaction? The sexual relationship? David and his employing women from agencies, the woman leaving him? His sexual appetite?
7.The reactions to the affair, Melanie and her break? Not coming to lectures? Her fellow student, his criticisms, coming to the lecture, the attack on David? Melanie not coming to the exam, David giving her a false mark? The confrontation from her father?
8.The board, the members, their attitude? The hearing, David’s attitude, pleading guilty, not offering an apology? Wanting a way out? His relief?
9.Driving to the country, the atmosphere of the deserts and mountains? The casual lifestyle? His relationship with Lucy, her welcoming him, her own upset at the breaking of her relationship? His meeting Petrus, his reaction to Petrus’s sense of freedom and coming into the house? Yet working, labouring? Building? Life in the town, talking with Lucy? Sharing with her? The dogs, the vet – and the woman allowing a relationship with him?
10.The young men, their attack, their method, raping Lucy, bashing David, his helplessness? The repercussions, Lucy and her silence, his attitude, wanting to call the police, his demands? Seeing the boy at the party, attacking him, attacking Petrus?
11.Lucy and her character, her work, relationships, the vet, the dogs? Her fears? Petrus and his work? His having the house, her plans for being a tenant? Not reporting the boys to the police, keeping secrets, her pregnancy? Her wanting to have the child?
12.David and his return, the search for his car after its being recovered, his life in the city, going to the theatre to see Melanie perform, the improvement after seeing her at the rehearsal? The student attacking him? His apology to Melanie’s father, kneeling before her mother? His having no place in the city, returning?
13.Melanie, her age, wanting to learn, the theatre, accepting the affair, discussions with David, the sexual relationship? The effect, her parents, her friends? Not taking the test? Seeing her at the rehearsal, her awkwardness, her later performance and success?
14.Her student friend, his attitude, denouncing David, his verbal abuse? Hounding him from the theatre?
15.Petrus, his age, the bond with Lucy, the work on the property, repairing, the pipes, the building? His family? Protecting the boy, explanations to David? The future of Africa?
16.The young men, their method, robbing, raping, brutality? The young boy, a relation of Petrus, not mentally alert, his reactions?
17.The vet, her work in the town, the dogs, putting them down, the discussions with David – and the brutality with the young men killing the dogs?
18.A glimpse of South Africa, some understanding? The final image of the landscapes? The future, beauty, hope?
