EXTREMITIES
US, 1986, 89 minutes, Colour.
Farrah Fawcett, James Russo, Diane Scarwid, Alfre Woodard.
Directed by Robert M. Young.
Extremities is a play about rape, was successful on the American stage and around the world. Audiences participated in discussions with the cast at the end of performances. Groups concerned about victims for rape used the film as a means of raising levels of consciousness in the community.
Playwright William Mastrosimone has adapted his play for the screen. Farrah Fawcett was one of the actresses performing her role on stage and brings conviction and some power to her performance. James Russo is very good as the rapist. Diane Scarwid appears the heroine’s nervous friend, Alfre Woodard as her poised and business like friend. The film focuses on the victim of the rape attempt, the violence and violation, the power of men over women, the inadequacy,- of law and police protection, the humiliation, the anger and rage, the reversing of roles and the determination of the victim to overcome the aggressor. The film also shows friends, their not being victims and having difficulty in coming to terms with sympathy for the victim and concern for the injured aggressor.
The film has a brief running time but is often intense in its portrayal of the attempted rape, the assault and the protracted sexual violence. The film was directed by Robert Young, director of a range of films from Allambrista to Saving Grace.
1. The impact of the film, its theme of rape, its dramatisation of sexual assault, the impact for women identifying with Marjorie?; men identifying with Joe and with Marjorie and the sexual violent situation?
2. The origins of the film as a play: The film transferring action, dialogue, characterisation to the screen? The opening up of the play with outside sequences? Squash court, office, supermarket? The digging of the grave? The contribution of the musical score to atmosphere?
3. The title, in the experience of Marjorie, of Joe, the reversal of roles and power?
4. The prologue introducing Marjorie, her work, relationships, the squash game, her going to the shop in the Mall?
5. The credits and superior of Joe, the bike, the mask? The camera stalking potential victims in the shopping mall, night, the girl eating the ice-cream, cars coming in? His getting into Marjorie's car and drawing the knife on her, audience reaction to this visual assault, empathy with Marjorie?
6. The interaction between Marjorie and Joe, the knife in the car, his words, force, quiet? Assault? Her driving to the house? Joe as rapist, violent man, masked? The language of power, the language of sexuality, the language of violence? His actions? Violating Marjorie and her home? Marjorie as victim - power, sexuality, violence and violation?
7. The theme of rape anal attempted rape, the physical violence, psychological violence, moral violence? The threat? Victims? The film offering insight via drama?
8. Marjorie and her escape, going to the police, the report, the female police officer, the report - and the inadequacy of words such as compliance? The inadequacy of justice, the courts - and even police protection?
9. Terri and her style and personality, sharing the house, her glamour, taking the car? Pat and her control, orderliness? Friendship with Marjorie, support?
10. The glimpse of Joe at home, the family, his looking through Marjorie's purse while his daughter was outside? The credibility of his motivation?
11. His return., the driven man, intrusion into the house, physical brutality, hurting Marjorie? Making her cower? The sexual advances? Making her change her clothes (with the close up of Joe and Marjorie blurred in the background changing, the audience having to contemplate Joe and his motivation)? Making Marjorie stand on the bed, talking about her beauty, the sexual and physical encounters, wanting food, wanting a beer?
12. Marjorie, her response, fear, cowering? Changing her clothes, the sexual advances? His forcing to talk about love for him?. Her attempt to escape into the bathroom, his coming to the window, forcing her out?
13. The sexual violence, on the floor, the reversing of roles, her spraying his eyes, hitting him, tying him up with the cord, dragging ham and imprisoning him? Her anger and digging the grave? Her disregard of the law?
14. Terri's return, bewilderment, her fear? Not wanting to go to jail for Marjorie?
Going to get the drugs? The impact of the story of her own experience of rape and its effect on Marjorie and Pat?
15. Pat. businesslike, control, concern about the situation, about Joe and his injuries? Wanting to help, getting the medicine, her reaction to the grave?
16. Pat and Terri and their friendship, their believing Marjorie or not, not fully sympathetic, taking sides - and the impact of Joe telling the truth and their support for Marjorie?
17. Joe and his reaction, hurt, cowering, thumb in his mouth, murmuring God bless you to Pat’s help? His shrewdness in trying to play Terri and Pat off against Marjorie? The elaborate lying about having met Marjorie, spending the night, the reason for his coming to the house? Marjorie forcing him to tell the truth - the discovery of the knife, her holding it to him? The finale with him bound - and destined for prison?
18. Marjorie, the effect of the experience, fears and strength, angers and rage? Her response to her friends, the grave, not wanting to call the police? Her reaction to Joe's lies, getting the knife? Forcing him to tell the truth? Her final calm, allowing the police to come, the close-up at the end and Farrah Fawcett's face indicating the range of experiences that had happened to her?
19. The effect of the audience – a psychodrama of rape, making emotional and intellectual demands, moral demands?
