BREACH OF TRUST
US, 2000, 95 minutes, Colour.
Roma Downey, William Russ,
Directed by Larry Peerce.
Breach of Trust is a telemovie about marital infidelity. It opens with a celebration of a twenty-years anniversary. However, despite the protestations, it emerges that the husband was unfaithful. When he is seriously injured in a plane crash, and his companion killed, the revelation that he had a child is overwhelming for his wife and son.
The film treats this shock and breach of trust in a fairly predictable way which is nonetheless moving because of audience identification with the characters and situations. However, mitigating circumstances are then introduced which alter the direction of the film.
Roma Downey (Touched By An Angel) also served as executive producer of this film. It is a moralising film, focusing on the nature of marital fidelity and the awful impact of a breach of trust. Larry Peerce directed a number of films in the 1970s and 1980s and then moved to television movies.
1. Impact of the film? Credible characters, situations? Or contrived for a television movie and its expectations?
2. Salt Lake City, the family home, workplaces, schools? An authentic feel? Musical score?
3. The title, the highlighting of trust in a marriage and the effect of the breach? An alternative title was Secret Lives?
4. The opening, Cassie and Mark and their gifts to each other on their anniversary? The banquet, the speeches? Their being a model of marriage? Their day-by-day lives, the revelation of the separation eight years earlier because of Cassie’s inability to have a child? Kevin, his place in the family?
5. The news of the crash, Cassie’s anxiety, Mark surviving although injured? The revelation that the woman next to him had died, the delivery of her case? Cassie and her reliance on her friend for support? Kevin and the revelation that he knew the truth but could not tell his mother? Her immediate response to her husband, dismay, to her son and his having to carry the secret?
6. The encounter with the woman with the child, the discovery that Mark had a daughter? Her taking the child, bewildered, taking her home, compassionate towards the child? The discussions, making her feel at home? Kevin and his finding the little girl, his mother’s explanations? His antipathy towards his father? Erica and her wanting to see her father?
7. Cassie, discussions, getting the clothes from Cheryl’s house? Her continued care for Erica? Erica and Kevin getting on together, the cooking, playing in the yard?
8. Mark, his gaining consciousness, learning that Cheryl was dead, his dismay, Cassie’s reaction, Kevin not seeing him? His love for his daughter? His explanations of the separation, the relationship with Cheryl, not being in love with her, being a parent with her? Erica blaming herself for the crash because they were going to see her campsite? Cassie’s reassurance?
9. Cassie, discussions with her friend, her friend advising her about her love, not getting a divorce? No option but to look after Mark in his recovery?
10. The contact with Cheryl’s sister, her sudden arrival, going out with Erica, Erica not eating? Discussions about her relationship with Cheryl? Her deciding then to adopt the child, getting the court order? Erica’s disappearance, her concern? Her giving up the child?
11. Cassie, her disbelief, having to cope with the truth? The photos? Mark’s declarations? His recovery, his lapse? Coming home?
12. A future, Cassie learning to love Erica as a daughter that she never had, Kevin and the bonds with his half-sister? The reconciliation with Mark?
13. The moral implications of this kind of television story, its moralising tone, the nature of marriage and fidelity, coping with the consequences of infidelity?
