COLOR OF JUSTICE

US, 1997, 95 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Davison, F. Murray Abraham, Judd Hirsch, Gregory Hines, Lisa Pelikan, Saul Rubinek, Dule Hill, Paul Butler.
Directed by Jeremy Kagan.

Color of Justice is a Showtime telemovie focusing on racial issues and courts in New York City. Four young men steal a car, one bludgeons a woman to death. They are quickly arrested, treated with some racism by police, not read their rights immediately. However, the case becomes a political and social issue in New York City, as well as jurisdictions in New Jersey and with the F.B.I.

F. Murray Abraham is a mayoral candidate, right wing, who wants the suspects punished instantly. Judd Hirsch is an old-time liberal lawyer who defends them. Lisa Pelikan is the victim, Bruce Davison her distraught and ultimately out of control grieving husband. Gregory Hines portrays the Reverend Walton, an image of Al Sharpton and other black religious leaders who politicised racial and social issues in New York City. Dule Hill, soon to be Charlie in The West Wing, is a member of the gang, but who did not participate in the killing. At the end, he becomes the sacrificial victim. The writing is by Lionel Chetwynd, writer and director of such films as The Hanoi Hilton. Jeremy Kagan has made a number of significant telemovies and films like The Chosen.

1. The impact of this kind of telemovie? On American audiences? Non-Americans? Race and social issues? Justice?

2. The title and its implications about the law, its administration, deals and compromises? Doing what is right? The racial issues and the super-sensitivity in the United States?

3. The New York settings, the Bronx, the George Washington Bridge, the outlets? Homes, estates, the law courts? An authentic feel?

4. The opening: the four young men, black, making noise on the bus, on the train and the police comments, their being victimised? Stealing a car, running out of petrol, stopping at the bridge exit, Betty and her stopping, her fears, the approach, her defence, her being bludgeoned, her death? Their taking the car, failing to realise that the phone was on, that Betty had been talking to her husband? Police surveillance? Their immediate arrest?

5. Betty, the self-defence class, the instructor, his coping with the New York streets, his asking his students to think, not to rush into attack, self-defence? The later interview on television, Sam Lind accusing him of inculcating an aggressive attitude in his students, compounding it with fears of race attacks?

6. Frank Gainer and his listening on the radio, his collapse, grief, denial, his sister, Norm and the legal advice? The interchanges with Reverend Walton? His being interviewed, his allusion to race issues and trying to deny them? Being taken up by the media? His wanting to be interviewed, going to Lisa Chang, the boss arranging for equal time for Walton? His growing anger, the support of his sister? Going to court, bewildered? His final exasperation, going to the judge and the lawyers, their ousting him? His getting a gun, shooting wildly, killing Kameel?

7. The district attorney, Jim Sullivan and his staff (and the bickering between the black man and the feminist lawyer)? His ruthlessness, stances on racism and crime? Political ambitions? Attacking New Jersey, attacking the federal investigators? His conduct of the trial, tactics, exasperation at Sam Lind? The discussions, with the judge? Working out the deal? His stances as typical of many Americans?

8. Sam Lind, his background in the '60s, liberal, working within the law, defence, his trust to get the best defence for his clients, his interviews with the young men, his down-to-earth realism? His tactics, petitions in the court, Sullivan's exasperation? The discussions with Walton? His being employed by Walton and his office? His agreement to the deals?

9. Reverend Walton, the influence in New York City, his experience in Vietnam, his politicising everything? Readiness with the media, interview with Sam, the antagonism towards the liberals? Going to court, on the media, his references to the dead woman, his alleged sympathy with Frank? The truth of his statements about the root cause of the build-up of prejudice?

10. Norm, his friendship with Frank, trying to help? Jill and her supporting her brother?

11. The media, the hounding of Frank, at the courts? Lack of sensitivity? Television trying to get exclusives, Lisa Chang and her interviews, the facts? Recording the words at the funeral? The program being politicised and Lisa being dumped? The discussions with Frank about the interview and his walking out? The film's critique of the media?

12. The cross-examination of the police, racist backgrounds? The lawyers? The judge and her court, attitudes, black? The administration of the trial, the discussion of the deal? Her strong lecture to the young men?

13. Kenny Johnson and his career, seeming lack of conscience, the killing? Defiance? In prison? The contrast with Kameel? His parents and their sincerity? The decision of the judge, to the Juvenile Court, the reconnaissance of their parents? Kameel being Frank's victim?

14. The complexity of the issues - and the way that they were dramatised appropriately for the audience to assess them?