Australian
Screen

Clip description

Minnie Meredith (Angie Milliken) puts an end to Jack Senior’s (William McInnes) systematic abuse of their son David (Nick Russell). The father only escapes official retribution because the family doctor (John Arnold) was an officer in Meredith’s regiment. As that door finally closes another opens for David, who realises there may be a way out of his personal hell.

Curator’s notes

It is a credit to the producers that they did not draw back from showing the awful beatings that were a part of Davey’s adolescence, despite the fact that this must have contributed to their M15+ classification, and risked limiting their audience. Nor by implication do they excuse Minnie for her part in taking so long to do something about it, which is refreshing because her character is otherwise somewhat sanctified in this television adaptation. William McInnes puts in an unselfish performance as the ghastly Mr Meredith. His character has been further demonised by the addition of sexual perversion to his list of crimes but McInnes is never tempted to play for sympathy. Ken Cameron’s strong direction is evident in the shaping of the two contrasting scenes that make up this clip.

Apart from the honest performances, we are also treated to some of the excellent cinematography by Russell Bacon that is a feature of this mini-series. Note the breathtakingly beautiful light on the bay and the feeling of clean air and new hope the last scene evokes even without Matt Day’s accompanying voice-over.