Australian
Screen

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A Street to Die (1985)

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clip A chemical imbalance

Original classification rating: PG. This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

Col Turner (Chris Haywood) enjoys a beach walk with his wife Lorraine (Jennifer Cluff). They arrive home as the neighbour’s child, Kathy (Marion Chirgwin), breaks bottles on their driveway. Col hands her over to her father, Craig (Peter Kowitz). After a vigorous run, Col notices lumps in his throat. Lorraine tells him to go to the doctor. Later, playing chess, Craig tells Col that his daughter Kathy has been diagnosed with a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Curator’s notes

by Paul Byrnes

The film is made in a very spare style, with few close-ups, and many scenes done in single continuous takes. The cinematography by Geoff Burton uses long lenses in several scenes to establish a certain distance, perhaps even a sense of isolation around the Turner family.

The question of physical and mental wellbeing is often present. Col is otherwise fit and healthy. He smokes cigarettes but he also exercises, as does his neighbour Craig, another veteran of Vietnam. Both men have rashes on their arms that they struggle to get rid of, and Craig’s daughter shows signs of mental illness. Col’s swollen neck glands are one of the first signs of his developing illness.

The happiness and wellbeing at the start of the clip has begun to fall apart by the end of this clip – a quick transition of mood accomplished largely by images rather than dialogue.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

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  • You may download materials for your personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes, but you must not publish them elsewhere or redistribute clips in any way.
  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

All other rights reserved.

ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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