BEFORE AND AFTER

US, 1996, 108 minutes, Colour.
Meryl Streep, Liam Neeson, Edward Furlong, Alfred Molina, John Heard, Anne Magnusson.
Directed by Babette Schroeder.

Before and After questions how defence and prosecution work when all the emphasis is on tactics for defending the accused no matter what the truth, no matter what is done to witnesses even the accused's family. Edward Furlong, a talented young actor best known for Terminator 2, is charged with the brutal murder of his girlfriend. He has run away after the death and is taciturn when arrested. For a while, the film looks like a murder mystery. However, the resolution comes half-way through. What matters then is how the defence is to be conducted.

The strength of issues is supported by the performances of Meryl Streep and Liam Neeson as the young man's parents. The father is a passionate man, an artist, short-fused, and acts on impulse. The mother is a doctor, more objective in her assessments of issues and is concerned about the truth. The film is also an interesting opportunity to see Meryl Streep portray a very ordinary woman, a no-frills and no-tricks performance which reinforces her acting reputation. Law and principles.

1. A small-scale drama? The strength of the stars and the prestige?

2. Themes of law, morality and justice? Life changing instantly after an accident? The title and Judith’s commentary?

3. The New England settings, winter, bleak and overcast, the overcast mood, the countryside and exteriors, interiors in the homes, the courts? The musical score?

4. The opening with the crime scene, the dead girl? The police arriving? The household, the garage, the house, the transition to the home, the offices and courts?

5. The family, the theme of family and the defence of the family and good name, the means to an end, the end justifying the means? The truth? Emotional response to the characters, the situation, accidents, responsibility?

6. The themes of prosecution, guilt? Defence and the necessity of the prosecutor proving guilt? Issues of bail and reasons for bail? Fear? Jacob and the responsibility, the surrender? Jacob and justice and punishment?

7. The introduction to the family, the father at work, his art, a strong man, temper, arguing with his son? Caroline and her work as a doctor, with her patients? Coming home, the ordinariness of the day? Judith, the younger daughter, her age, not wanting to be treated like a child? The police arrival, the death of the girl, their reactions, the emotional situation – and the development, especially with Ben and his decision to defend his son?

8. The dead girl, the violence of her death? Ben’s reaction, the police and the antagonism, the garage, his destroying the evidence? His continuing to tell lies, the police coming with the warrants? His view on how to handle the situation? Caroline and her wanting to be more forthcoming? The importance of discussions with Ben and audience seeing both sides of the argument?

9. Jake, his age, disappearance, the postcards, the family seeing his arrest on television? Meeting him in the jail, his absolute silence? The bail issue and his being allowed out? At home, silent, cold with Judith, the tree house and his conversation with her, the meal, his confession and explanation of what had happened? The flashbacks and the picturing of the two together, the discussions, Martha’s pregnancy, the fight, her death? The effect on Ben and his continued determination to defend his son?

10. The impact of the flashbacks, the quarrel, the fight? Consequences of the death, his panic, running? The pregnancy and the lawyers getting a DNA test, Jacob not responsible?

11. The police, Wendell and his friendship with the family, handling the situation? The prosecution and bail? The judge’s comment about bail and responsibility?

12. Going to the lawyer, his reputation, the initial interviews, Ben losing his temper, Caroline wanting to cooperate? His wanting to defend Jacob? His way of dealing with the parents, the DNA information? The discussions with Jake? The press and their questions, the crowds? Ben losing his temper with the judge? Caroline and her telling the truth? The lawyers’ reaction?

13. The clashes at home, Jacob and his disappearance, going back to the prison?

14. Ben’s declarations, Caroline and her wanting integrity – and the scene of her meeting the dead girl’s mother in the rest room, not wanting her pity? The reaction of the mother?

15. The local people, the hostility, the fires and the attack on the family home?

16. The final hearing, the sentence, its justice? Jake accepting his responsibility? Judith and her final comments about change? The final lyrical sequence of the family together rowing on the river?