SILENT WITNESS

US, 1985, 91 minutes, Colour.
Valerie Bertinelli, John Savage, Chris Nash, Melissa Leo.
Directed by Michael Miller.

Silent Witness is a telemovie about rape. There is some focus on the victim as well as the assailants. However, the film centres on witnesses and their avoiding responsibility, ultimately facing up to them. The setting is Pittsburgh, an ordinary couple played by Valerie Bertinelli and John Savage. They witness a rape, one of the rapists being Savage's brother. The family put pressure on them not to testify. However, the wife meets the victim, listens to her, sees how she is treated in court and how she suicides and then decides to come forward as a witness. The family then try to blacken her name. The material is similar to The Accused which was made a couple of years later. However The Accused focuses on the victim and her stance. There is a good supporting cast including Pat Corley as a brilliant lawyer.

1. Powerful telemovie? Significant themes, rape, violence, responsibility and the law?

2. The Pittsburgh settings, homes, bars, police stations? Authentic atmosphere? Musical Score?

3. Audience response to the theme of rape, empathy with the victims, the role of women in society, violence and violation, the role of the law? Responsibility of witnesses?

4. Annie and Kevin, their seeking anew home, the relationship, the attempts to have a child? The background of Kevin's affair and the reconciliation? Their work, the background of Kevin's family?

5. Going to the bar, the drink, the sudden situation, the rape victim, the behaviour of the men, the bar tender? Reactions? Michael and his participation? The family closing ranks? Kevin and Annie deciding not to do anything about it? Police questions and their response?

6. The effect of witnessing the rape on Annie, at work in the supermarket, watching proceedings on television? The discussions with the police? Her feeling of responsibility? The family party - and the cheque of $3000? The discussions with the lawyer and his advice for silence? The visit from her mother-in-law and the speculation about responsibility and guilt, keeping silence, Michael's wife and children? Michael's wife as her best friend, the separation? Her decision to visit
Patti, the house, Patti's condition, Frankness, her illness, alcoholics anonymous, the experience of the rape?

7. Kevin, his work, resisting the police, the ultimate clash with the family, with Annie and her leaving?

8. Patti, her drinking, her illness, alcoholics anonymous? In the bar, becoming victim, saying no? Her appearance in court, the pressure by the lawyer, reading her document from alcoholics anonymous? The implications, lies by the accused? Her returning home, killing herself?

9. The effect of Patti's death on Annie, changing her testimony? The family and the witnesses smearing her reputation? Investigating her privacy? Kevin's affair? Her inability to have children? Family jokes and her reaction? The family telling lies? The effect on her - and the brow beating by the lawyer? Joe and his turning up, sympathy, the sexual encounter - and then his testimony, lying about her, saying that she was planning a book?

10. Kevin the effect of Annie's leaving? Still loving her? His not wanting to go to the police? His decision to be a witness in her favour? The hostility of the family?

11. The lawyer, tough stances, invasion of privacy, verbal brow beating?

12. The prosecution, their trying to make a case, lack of witnesses, trying to persuade Kevin and Annie?

13. The portrait of the family, close knit, Michael and his behaviour, relying on Kevin for bail, the lies about the rape? His wife, her love for Annie, separation from her? The mother and her knowing what was true? Trying to cover up?

14. Joey, his friendship with Annie, the seductive advances, the encounter, his lies?

15. The portrait of the men who were violent, rapists, their lies, behaviour in court? Condemnation? The bartender and his turning away?

16. The reality underlying the movie? Rape, its frequency in society, causes, effects,
protection by the law? The impact on the victims?