Saturday, 18 September 2021 18:56

Hit and Run






HIT AND RUN

US, 1998, 95 minutes, Colour.
Margaret Colin.
Directed by Dan Lerner.

Hit and Run is a didactic telemovie, a focus on an ordinary mother who accidentally hits a schoolgirl, goes for help, comes back to find herself being moved on by the police but finally accused of being a hit-and-run driver. She is unable to communicate the truth to her husband, is afraid to talk to her friends who begin to sense that something is wrong, is in communication with a detective investigating the case and eventually confesses to her.

The film highlights the horror of such accidents, the consequences for victims, the consequences for family. It also highlights the fear in the ordinary citizen suddenly caught up in this situation, having the make a decision – and making the wrong decision.

The film is set in a very affluent society – under criticism from the investigating detective. It shows a competent woman, lacking in self-confidence in comparison with her husband and memories of her past career, a hostess who is unable to handle the situation. Of particular interest is the unforgiving attitude of her husband and the collapse of their marriage.

Margaret Colin is very sympathetic in a difficult role. An interesting film for a home audience to consider the repercussions of such incidents and to identify with the central character and her dilemmas.

1. The impact of the film? A telemovie for the home audience? For audiences to understand the situation, the characters, decisions and dilemmas? Where did audience sympathies lie?

2. The affluent community, the town, business and executives, hostesses and parties? Lunching out? The contrast with the detective’s world, the police world? The attractive locations, affluence?

3. The title and indication of themes, the designation of this kind of offence? Public opinion, sympathy for the victim, no sympathy for the perpetrator?

4. The portrait of Joanna, her beautiful home, hostess for the party, her friends, the preparation of the party? Her relationship with her husband, love for her children? Her husband unable to stop and listen to her? the children and their squabbling? Taking the children to school, warning the little girl about her dropped box – and the irony that she would hit her on her bike? The various errands, lunches? The building up of a sympathetic character?

5. Her driving, the rain, fiddling and searching, hitting the young girl, helping her, going for help, the phone call, anonymity? Her return, being urged on by the police? Her not telling authorities? Her ringing her husband, trying to tell him the truth, his being busy with his daughters, not listening? The party, her distractedness? Her concern about the girl? With her friends, their social help for the victim, going to the hospital? Her phone calls and continued concern? Being interviewed by the police, the meeting? Her continued agitation? Detective Riko and the questions, putting the hypothesis, sitting in the car? Her telling her husband, her shock at his inability to respond to her? Her going to the police? The transition to the aftermath, her living alone, Detective Riko visiting her, the collapse of her marriage, going to see her children and hugging them as they came out of school? Her future? Her competencies, the interview and her nervousness, working in a book store? Possibility of reconciliation with her husband?

6. The husband, busy, social, not listening to his wife, his shock, his not being able to believe anything she said? The daughters, squabbling, at home, love – the end and their hugging their mother?

7. The friends, social, reputation in the small community, affluence, trying to help, the PTA, sympathy for the mother of the victim? Nancy and the interrogation, her nervousness, telling the mother of the injured girl?

8. The mother, the father and his anger? At the daughter’s bedside, the gradual improvement, her finally coming out of coma, recognising Joanna? The prayer service? The appeal for people to come forward? Nancy telling her about Joanna, her confronting her?

9. Detective Rika, trying to be pregnant, her assistant, the investigation, the accident scene, suspicions, the speech at the school, the interest in Joanna, explaining the hypothesis, the interview with Nancy, the pressure on her? Finally hoping that Joanna would come in of her own accord? The final visit to Joanna?

10. Audience response to this frequent situation, the victim and her injuries, the plight of the family, the plight of the perpetrator?

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