ACT OF NECESSITY

Australia, 1991, 90 minutes, Colour.
Angie Milliken, Steven Grives, Mark Owen- Taylor, Loren Hewitt.
Directed by Ian Munro.

Act of Necessity is one of a series of docu-dramas made by Film Australia in the early '90s. They focused on social and moral issues: mortgage, malpractice.

This film is concerned with the environment, crops, sprays and their effects on the health, especially of children. (An American telemovie on a similar theme was Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal, with Marsha Mason.)

The film is well acted, has a sense of realism, uses some documentary techniques - meetings, interviews, information by experts, which combines with the drama of an exasperated mother, damaging a plane because of her feeling about the death of her child who suffered from Leukaemia. There is a strong cast of Australian actors led by Angie Milliken as the mother.

1. The work of Film Australia in the '90s, docu-dramas, message films? Propaganda?

2. The title, the reference to the law, Louise's defence for her action - damaging the plane, stopping it from spraying, an act of necessity?

3. Audience concern about the environment? Audience knowledge of chemicals, the effect on health, medicine, the law? The role of government and regulations? The growth of information about these issues during the '80s and '90s?

4. The point of view of the screenplay, impartiality, partiality? Propaganda against chemical companies and spraying? The audience's emotional response to the issues? The film's presentation of the evidence and proof?

5. The structure of the film: Louise's action and the flashbacks? The effect of seeing her commit the sabotage and the audience understanding what she did and why?

6. The portrait of Louise, the focus on her? Her action and audiences wanting to know the reasons? An ordinary woman, wife and mother? The home sequences with Ben, shared experiences, hopes, clashes? Love for Samantha? The episode of the dead fish in the river? Her concern, the radio interview? Ben hearing it? The reactions from people? The visit of the expert and the meeting, his explanations? Her discussions with Pat Jackson? Sam's illness, the visits to Sydney, the hospital, the diagnoses? The loneliness? The discussions with Ben? Sam and the chemotherapy, the visits?

7. Her asking questions, learning about the issues, discussing with friends? The confrontation with the experts? The old man and his point of view? The visit with Brian and his wife, the tennis games? The growing arguments about the cotton crop and the sprayings? The mother of the ill child? Meetings? Gathering information, the clash with Ben about the cotton crop? Sam's final illness, the pathos of her death, the impact of the funeral?

8. The crises for Louise, with the death of the child, her husband? Livelihood? Brian and his wife? The fight with the farmer? The build-up to her sabotage?

9. The portrait of Samantha, the young child, the river, the fish, friends at school, playing, the growing illness, in Sydney, her courage, illness? Lisa? Her death?

10. Ben and the marriage, working on the farm, friendship with Brian, the tennis games, the discussions about cotton, love for his wife, his daughter, the grief at her illness? The aftermath of Louise's action and his support of her?

11. Brian and his wife, their concerns, point of view, stances on the crop, the spraying? His workers?

12. The foreman and his attitude towards the workers, the sprays, the aborigines? The aboriginal woman and her complaint? The role of aborigines in this part of New South Wales?

13. The speech by the expert, the hospitality, public relations? The visit to Louise and the discussion? The search for proofs? The evidence, the research - and the spraying of the chemicals so near to a school?

14. Louise's court case, the pros and cons of her action, the expert witnesses and their points of view, the role of the judge? Issues and justice?

15. The film as a personal experience of a moral issue? The effectiveness of the docu-drama style?