SMALL CLAIMS
Australia, 2004, 105 minutes, Colour.
Claudia Karvan, Rebecca Gibney, Robert Mammone, Freya Stafford, Tina Bursill.
Directed by Cherie Nowlan.
Small Claims is an interesting television movie. It has strong characterisations and has more than enough plot to keep audience interest.
The film is a star vehicle for Claudia Karvan, one of the most reliable of Australian actresses – from childhood days in such films as Molly and High Tide to adult roles in many films, especially those of Paul Cox, Passion and other television series. She is matched by Rebecca Gibney who made such an impact in the Halifax series.
The film was directed by Sheree Nowlan, who made the comedy, Thank God He Met Lizzie, as well as the documentary on the Sisters of Mercy, God’s Girls.
The film has a Sydney setting, focusing on a retired solicitor who is bringing up her children who meets a policewoman, estranged from her husband, at a child care centre. It emerges that one of the other mothers is actually a drug courier who was not murdered along with other couriers eight years earlier.
The film is very complex, focusing as it does on the world of drug dealing and smuggling from Asia as well as police work and police corruption at the top. While the film remains very suburban in its characters and in its treatment, it is relevant in terms of the roles of women, careers, home life as well as portraits of reliable and unreliable men. It also echoes the films about police corruption in New South Wales.
1.An interesting drama, human drama, crime drama, domestic? The focus on women, careers, work, family?
2.The Sydney settings, homes, pubs, police stations, child care centres? A credible an authentic atmosphere? The musical score?
3.The prologue, the killings, their brutality? The passing of eight years? The finding of the bodies, the police investigation, the identity of the couriers? The identity of the police official from the drug squad who was responsible for the killings? The release of the drug dealer from prison and the set-up for revenge, protection, exposure, murder?
4.Claudia Karvan as Jo, being introduced at the party in the pub, her transfer, singing with Rhonda? The clash with the baby-sitter? Her work as a detective, giving it up because of her son, enrolling him in the centre? Meeting the authorities, the mothers, her matter-of-fact, down-to-earth approach? Her relationship with Greg, her anger at her transfer? Finding the compromising photos of Greg and the corrupt police? The discussions with Rhonda and Rhonda’s being careful? Brett, young, the kiss in the pub, her relying on him for help, his giving the information? Her friendship with Melinda, suspicions of Todd? The developing situation, the drugs, her ability to read Melinda, know the truth? Greg and his coming at midnight, the money, under the bed? The house search? The police integrity squad? Going to Rhonda, in the chapel, at the choir practice, Rhonda and her revealing the truth about Rayvorn and corruption?
5.Chrissie, her background as a solicitor, the house and the rain, the crying children, her husband and his job, going overseas, the tension? The phone calls? Her catering work? Taking in the Japanese student? The clashes with her mother, her mother being disappointed in her? Her being at the school, with the children, her worry about Melinda, the decision to intervene, going to the house, looking after the daughter, suspicions of Todd? Her going to Jo, their discussions, arguments, the intruder in the house?
6.Melinda, her children, the clashes with Todd, the party? His gambling? The issue of fees? Todd and his gun? The phone threat? The background of the drugs, her wanting to confide in Chrissie, the opportunity passing? The revelation of the truth, her disappearance? Her past as Leanne, not being executed?
7.The picture of the children, the different families, the homes, the different mothers, parents, at the centre, the drawings, the classes, the dinosaurs? With the sports?
8.The Japanese student, Chrissie and her support of her, in the house, limited English, the fire and the cooking and her weeping? Her help, fear at the intrusion? At the lingerie sale?
9.Todd, the clashes with Melinda, his gambling, the gun? The truth about his record, his debt being taken over by the drug lord? His being forced to violent standover tactics? His daughter in hospital, his not knowing the truth about Melinda? His reliance on Chrissie? The police intrusion into his house, his arrest, Chrissie interviewing him? Becoming his solicitor?
10.The other mothers, the domestic side – as the context for the crime issues?
11.Carl, the drugs, the dealers, the executions, his being released from prison? Coming to Sydney from the west? His brother, stalking Melinda, the warnings, his intrusion in the house – Jo following him, the car chase, going to the motel, finding him dead?
12.Rhonda, her work in the police, the lesbian choir, her friend, her reluctance to give Jo the information, finally agreeing?
13.Intruders, the police, threats, murders?
14.Rayvorn, his associates? Corrupt? With the drug lord? The policeman from the west – and the Police Integrity Commission? Greg and his involvement with the Western Australian man, the revelation that he was part of the undercover team? Talking frankly with Jo – but not being able to be reconciled? Brett and his help? The build-up to the scenes in the hospital, getting Melinda out, the confrontation with the policeman, Greg and his believing Jo, Brett and his saving the day?
15.Chrissie’s mother, her severity, self-centredness, expectations of her daughter – and helping out?
16.The resolution of the issues, the exposure of the corrupt police and their arrest? The contrast with Chrissie’s husband finally getting home, the lingerie party and the general cheerfulness of the ending?
