A WOMAN CALLED GOLDA

US, 1982, 192 minutes, Colour.
Ingrid Bergman, Judy Davis, Jack Thompson, Leonard Nimoy, Anne Jackson, Ned Beatty, Robert Loggia.
Directed by Alan Gibson.

A Woman Called Golda was Ingrid Bergman's last film role. She is excellent as the Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir. Bergman brings her strength, dignity and experience as well as warmth to the role - both in telling her story to young children in a Milwaukee school and as involved in so much of the politics and strategies of the establishing of the State of Israel.

Australian Judy Davis, after her performance in My Brilliant Career, was chosen to portray the young Golda. She does this well - even imitating the style that Bergman would use for her performance. The leading man is Jack Thompson in a role made up of composite figures in Golda Meir's life. He gives a subdued performance with a persuasive accent - playing against type as he did in so many Australian films. There is an interesting international cast headed by Leonard Nimoy as Golda's husband Maurice.

The film uses Israeli locations, re-creates the period well, incorporates contemporary film of the State of Israel and Arab attacks. Direction is by Alan Gibson, director of television programmes and a number of English movies, including Christopher Lee Dracula films.

1. An entertaining telemovie? A television treatment of Golda Meir: portrait, biography, history, tribute? The telemovie style: the flashback framework: the voice-over commentary by Golda?

2. The United States and location photography, Israel and location photography? The contrast of the two countries? Decor and costumes? Period authenticity? The transition from America to Palestine - the kibbutz, Jerusalem? The transition to the war period, the '40s and '50s, clashes with Egypt, the 6-day war, the war with Syria? The musical score?

3. The success of the film as biography - sufficient information given about Golda Meir, the outline of her life? The film as a portrait - from Golda as a girl to Prime Minister? A credible life and transition to political power and world influence? The dramatising of a portrait? The use of television - a world celebrity in the television age?

4. The film as an Ingrid Bergman vehicle, her last film, her impact, her contribution to the warm portrait of Golda Meir? The climax of Bergman's career? Judy Davis and her fitting into the pattern of Ingrid Bergman's performance? The framework of Golda Meir talking to the Milwaukee children? Coming to her American home, her talking to them in the form of a memoir, their innocent questions and delight and her answers? Her story answering their questions - and therefore those of the television audience? Her reflections on her life? The meaning of her life for the children? Her secretary prompting her and supporting her?

5. The young Golda and the explanation of her experiences in Russia, the persecution of the Jews, coming to America? Her eagerness growing up in America? Her friendship with Maurice? Her verve, for example, her not appreciating the music that Maurice loved? The bond between the two, the decision to marry, her love for Maurice? Her forceful persuasion of him to go to Israel and to the kibbutz? The difficulties and her impatience? The irony of the kibbutz not accepting them - and changing their minds? Her exhilaration for being on the kibbutz - the jobs, the chooks, fixing things on the roof? The contrasting effect on Maurice and his finding it difficult? The friendship with Ariel and the others? The emergence of her capacities as an organiser, being on committees? The social life of the kibbutz - and her early impetuosity and being shot at by Arab snipers? Her continually learning, the jealousy of others? Her being relied on? Shaping her for her future role?

7. Maurice as a gentle man, following Golda, his tastes. interests, the difficulties in going to Palestine? The effect of life on the kibbutz, illness? His wanting to leave and Golda's going with him? Their going to Jerusalem, the difficulties of work, poverty? The children? The sequence with Golda in the Arab shop trying to bargain for food? The riot and Ariel's rescuing her? The two parting? Maurice's later return - and Golda's regret that she could not stay with Maurice? The fond meeting in later years?

8. The presentation of kibbutz life, the spirit of work and comradeship, the enthusiasm for building something, the Arabs and the snipers, the overseeing role of the British in Palestine?

9. Golda and her work in Palestine, with groups, the role of the British, diplomacy? The bond with Ben Gurion and his leadership? The changes in Palestine after World War Two? Applications to the United Nations, the hostility of the Arabs? The United Nations' vote for the State of Israel? The establishment of the parliament, the leadership of Ben Gurion, Golda's political role?

10. The sequence of the encounter with the Arab king? Their diplomacy, her role as a woman diplomat and the reaction of the Arabs -the proposals, his later assassination?

11. Ben Gurion and his achievement, the wars, the Arabs? The lighter touch with Golda hiring her secretary and the clash with Ben Gurion?

12. Golda and the reality of her cancer, retirement, people, calling her to come back to politics, her ability to unite people? The secrecy of her illness?

13. The 1973 war, the disaster, people's reaction, reaction against her?

14. The achievement of Golda Meir, a world leader, a woman having world leadership in the 29th. century? A portrait of the establishing of Israel?