A DEADLY SILENCE
US, 1989, 96 minutes, Colour.
Mike Farrell, Charles Haid, Sally Struthers.
Directed by John Patterson.
A Deadly Silence is an American telemovie about incest. It has a strong message and a plea for communication with authorities when a child seems to be a victim of incest.
The film is based on a true story, a book and the court records and the trial of the central character. It begins with a collage of opinions about the situation: mainly disbelief. The film portrays the father, his death, the uncovering of the motivations of his daughter, the abuse, her suffering, her taking drastic action and the court case.
The film is well-acted: Charles Haid has a brief but emphatic role as the father, Mike Farrell is the lawyer. Heather Fairchild gives a persuasive performance as the abused, confused, self-centred Cheryl.
1. The impact of this telemovie, based on a true story, its themes, message?
2. Designed for a wide audience, the treatment of the issues for the television audience, the message, urging people to collaborate and help?
3. Long Island settings, suburbs, homes, courts?
4. The title: whose silence: Cheryl's, the family, friends?
5. The prologue and the indication of opinion about Cheryl]. and the situation:
the collage of photos and voices? Alerting audience attention?
6. Jim as an ordinary citizen, father, at home, the celebration of his birthday, friends, his treatment of his family, at work? Seeing him as tough, his ailing wife, her death and the funeral? His love for his daughters? His
severity with his son, the haircut, ousting him? Harsh comments? Discipline within the house? His death?
7. The police, their investigation? The detective and his work? The presumptions about Jim Jnr? The truth about Cheryl, the investigations? The lawyer, his relationship with Cheryl, helping, trying to understand, horrified, his special plea, discussions with psychologists?
8. The truth emerging in flashbacks? Cheryl, her story, relationship with her father over the years, the corroboration of others? At school? Her relationship with Rob, in love with him? The discussion with Sean about the killing? Biding her time? Her concern about Joanne? Her narrative of her relationship with her father, his treatment of her, her mother's awareness? Seeking opportunities? Cheryl's decision to kill her father, hiring Sean, the money? Her reaction, coldness, unemotional, saying the words about child abuse, her selfishness, defensiveness? The psychiatrists and their comment about this as her way of protecting herself? The pregnancy, the tests, Rob as the father? The doubt whether she was telling the truth? The film leaving this open?
9. Her aunt and her grandmother, their place in the household, helping, look after Cheryl and Joanne, their disbelief? The aunt and her concern, her believing the truth about her brother rather than her niece? The neighbours, their concern, the neighbour worried about Cheryl's behaviour?
10. Rob, in school, his support? in the court?
11. Sean, the idea of killing for hire, the money, his interest, the opportunity, his parents, the gun, the fact of shooting? His asking for more money, greed? Lack of conscience? The harsh sentence? The horror of this boy actually hiring himself out?
12. Cheryl, the jury, the letters written to the judge, the judge and his comment, sympathy to Cheryl in her plight, his saying that there were other means available? His sentence, her collapse, leaving in the police car? Her having to cope, the support of her brother? The reaction of the family? Joanne and her loving, despite the fact that she resented Cheryl killing her lather?
13. The point made that Cheryl did not have to act in this way, the film highlighting other ways of coping with incest?
