• Post category:Movies
  • Post last modified:April 6, 2019

A Cry in the Dark

A FAMILY TORN APART. A PUBLIC FILLED WITH OUTRAGE. A WOMAN ACCUSED OF MURDER.

During a trip to Ayers Rock, a baby girl disappears; her mother (Meryl Streep) claims that a dingo took the infant, but she and her husband (Sam Neill) are soon put on trial. The real-life story of what the deeply religious Chamberlains went through before being exonerated; director Fred Schepisi shows how vicious gossip spread around Australia, helped by predator journalists. An entire nation seemed consumed with a desire for revenge. Gripping stuff, for sure, and still topical; covering sensational court cases like this one requires journalists with a sense of responsibility. Very good acting, even though the film at times feels like merely a well made TV movie. 

1988-U.S.-Australia. 121 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Verity Lambert. Directed by Fred Schepisi. Screenplay: Fred Schepisi, Robert Caswell. Novel: John Bryson (“Evil Angels”). Cast: Meryl Streep (Lindy Chamberlain), Sam Neill (Michael Chamberlain), Bruce Myles (Barker), Charles Tingwell, Nick Tate, Neil Fitzpatrick.

Trivia: Alternative title: Evil Angels. This story was also told in the miniseries Through My Eyes (2004).

Cannes: Best Actress (Streep). 

Last word: “There were enormous legal considerations over every line I said, because Lindy Chamberlain was pressing the government to be exonerated. Along with all the other challenges of making a movie, to have lawyers sitting there… There was no doubt in my mind that she was innocent. And they did exonerate her, after the film. But because of her manner, she was condemned. She wasn’t the weeping, screaming, bereaved mother – she was more like ‘None’a your fucking business how I feel!’ There are people you just want to tell, ‘You know, you’ll get further in life if you just…’ She was vilified for the shape of her eyebrows, because they pointed down and she looked mad all the time.” (Streep, Entertainment Weekly)

 

IMDb

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