Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Director: Steve Jodrell, Umbrella Entertainment.
An outsider comes to town and ends up being horrified with what she finds. Asta Cadell (Deborra-Lee Furness, Correlli, Angel Baby) is a tough prosecutor, who takes a lone road trip in outback Western Australia. A relaxing ride turns tense when her motorcycle malfunctions and she makes a pit stop in the fictitious township of Ginborak.
Asta meets teen Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Curtis (Simone Buchanan), who reveals that she has just been raped, and then helps the young woman report the crime to the authorities. Lizzie looks on Asta as a role model and her source of strength. When police corruption stands in the way of justice, Asta takes matters into her own hands.
Treated disrespectfully by men in the local pub, the barrister is directed to the town’s mechanic, Tim Curtis (Tony Barry, Cross Life) to stay with his family, who are visibly troubled.
Asta’s assertive personality brings her into conflict with the bullying female owner of a meat processing factory, and with the ruthless group of young men who have pack-raped several girls in the town. When these men turn their unpleasant attention to her, she vigorously defends herself, inflicting injuries on some of the boys. Tragic happenings result from conflict.
Furness is compelling in Shame. No wonder she won both the 1988 Film Critics Circle of Australia (FCCA) ‘Best Actor’ and Golden Space Needle ‘Best Actress’ awards; as well as, the FCCA awarding ‘Best Screenplay’ to both Beverley Blankenship and Michael Brindley.
The Blu-ray includes interviews with director Steve Jodrell, co-writers Michael Brindley and Beverley Blankenship, producer Paul Barron and Simone Buchanan.
