BObbytalkscinema.com

A Cry In The Dark (1989) (Movies To See Before You Die - Court Room / Biographical)

26 Nov, 2012 | Movies To See Before You Die / Court Room

This is one of those shocking movies made on a real life story which reveals the hidden ugly face of our society lead by the questionable media. It shows us the mirror, when we unknowingly or unconsciously start enjoying the pain felt by the others and love to talk about the people at the suffering end behind their back. Though the film (as per the real incident), doesn’t give you any straight or decisive conclusion about the shocking happening in the end. Still “Cry In The Dark” is a mysterious eye-opener especially targeting the people who are a part of today’s media circus or the ones who strongly start believing in whatever is fed to them through various mediums and platforms in a highly irresponsible manner.

Based on the true story of Lindy Chamberlain and Michael Chamberlain, this is filmed in a documentary style featuring one of the most mysterious court cases in the history of Australia. It gives you the account of that sad night when Lindy Chamberlain witnesses or claims witnessing a Dingo (an Australian dog) carrying away her 10 months old daughter from a camp tent. The baby was never found again but the case turned into a national drama when the Police discovered some peculiar developments on the site resulting in Lindy being charged for murdering her own daughter.

As the plot suggests, this was one of those most difficult acts to portray on the screen, challengingly accepted by Meryl Streep to give one of her career best performances as Lindy. And Meryl also got a Best Actress Nomination in the Academy Awards for the same quite deservingly. She truly gets into the skin of her character ‘Lindy' and through her flawless act never reveals that whether the lady actually did it or was just an unfortunate victim of the misguiding media reports in front of the jury. Director Fred Schepisi extracts a commendable performance not only from Meryl Streep but also from Sam Neill, playing the stumbling husband, who just finds himself caught between his family, cruel media persons and the court proceedings.

In all, A CRY IN THE DARK is one of those intense films which take you into the inner psyche of a victim whose small kid gets taken away by a wild animal, never to be found again. And on top of that the whole society, media and the court thinks that this cannot happen naturally and the mother herself must have killed the baby following an undisclosed sick ritual. It is also one of those films which insightfully reveal that at times, the irresponsible media might become a culprit too by entirely changing the attitude of people in a case through its questionable and biased reporting.

So if you can feel the importance of the subject here and also love to watch exciting, court room dramas with new turning points coming one after another then do watch A CRY IN THE DARK as a must and give a serious thought to the role of media in its complex as well as shocking conclusion.

Directed By Fred Schepisi
Starring : Meryl Streep, Sam Neil, Dale Reeves and more.

Tags : Cry In The Dark (1989), Movies To See Before You Die, Court Room Drama, Mystery, Suspense films on real life cases, Must See Movies List by Bobby Sing, Shocking Real Life Court Cases, Famous Court Case of Australia, Worth Seeing Movies List, Not To Be Missed Movie Listing at bobbytalkscinema.com

26 Nov 2012 / Comment ( 2 )

Chris

submitted on 29 November 2012

I wonder apart from Kanoon by BR Chopra, has hindi cinema ever tried making courtroom dramas?
Was \'Yeh Raaste hai pyar ke\' (Sunil Dutt) one? or \'Ek Ruka Hua Faisla\' and \'Mohan Joshi Haazir Ho\'?
Can\'t recall anything else.
Or is Indian Public not intelligent enough? (sorry)

Bobby Sing

submitted on 29 Nov,2012

Hi Chris,
I think here the case is two ways.
Yes Hindi Cinema has not tried making too many court room dramas...............thats correct.
But its not that they havent made any good court room dramas at all............But on the contrary the case is that you havent seen them all actually because they dont like to call them Court Room Movies.
In reality all the Hindi movies which have a major portion dealing in court proceedings are not actually publicised as Court Room Dramas due to commercial reasons...............and they do have the added melodrama in them too as required for Indian viewers and hence your confusion.

However, your comment here has given me a fresh idea of writing about the list of Bollywood Court Room Dramas which I am giving here too for you only.......so just keep it with you till the post is written and posted and the list goes :

1. Kanoon (1960)
2. Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962)
3. Waqt (1965) (Last hour in court)
4. Mera Saaya (1966)
5. Imaan Dharam (1977) - Based on a plot on "Paid False Witnesses"
6. Vishwanath (1978) - Based on an honest and successful Lawyer.
7. Insaaf Ka Tarazu (1980)
8. Andha Kanoon (1983) - Had a great twisting plot dealing with the court's verdict.
9. Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (1986) - Unofficial remake of "12 Angry Men" (1957)
10. Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho (1984)
11. Meri Jung (1985)
12. Damini (1993)
13. Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995) - Inspired from "Kramer Vs Kramer" (1979)
14. Deewangee (2002) - Unofficial remake of "Primal Fear" (1996)
15. Aitraaz (2004) - Unofficial remake of "Disclosure" (1994)
16. Phir Milenge (2004) - Inspired from "Philadelphia" (1993)
17. Veer Zaara (2004) - Had its last hour in Court.
18. Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara (2005)
19. Shaurya (2008) - Highly inspired from "A few Good Men" (1992)
20. Oh My God (2012) - Offical remake of "The Man Who Sued GOD" (2001)

Hence as a conclusion though many of the films are inspired ones in the list...........you can say that Indian Public Is intelligent enough to make and watch these all?

Cheers!

A Cry In The Dark (1989) (Movies To See Before You Die - Court Room / Biographical)

Archives

A warm welcome

DO SHARE.... BUT PLEASE DONT COPY

A Cry In The Dark (1989) (Movies To See Before You Die - Court Room / Biographical)

JOIN US

Archives

A warm welcome

DO SHARE.... BUT PLEASE DONT COPY