This was a very controversial film when it first came out and probably still is. Following the same themes of the Death Wish series of films, we have a victim failed by the court system who takes matters into her own hands.

Margaux Hemingway plays a highly paid fashion model selling products with her sexuality who lives with her younger sister (played by her real life sister Mariel) who has a crush on her high school music teacher (Chris Sarandon). Mariel brings the teacher to meet her older sister so that he can play her his special type of synthesized music. While the younger girl is away a horrible rape ensues when Margaux just rudely ignores the music the teacher plays to her.

The case goes to court and in a twist reminiscent of The Accused (Jodie Foster) the Jury essentially decides that it was not rape and the Music teacher gets away with it. He later rapes the younger sister at a fashion shoot and by this time Margaux has had enough and blows him away with a hunting rifle.

Sounds, ok to most people I suppose, but the reason this film was so controversial was because it implies that women can and should just take the law into their own hands. It doesn’t really ask questions about the balance between victims rights and justice being observed; just its ok to blow someone away if you don’t like what the courts decide!

It has direct relevance in today’s judicial climate in which more than ever before we are seeing “Justice Shortcuts” being taken in respect of crimes of this type. Certainly in this film there is little doubt that the offence took place, but what about the 22% of sexual offences reported and found to be either unsupported or malicious each year in NSW for example? Somewhere their has to be a balance.

However of course this is just a film and as a film it still stands as a very powerful piece, even if like me you are not nearly convinced about its black and white solution at the end of a gun. I guess it made me think about these issues (which of course is why I am writing about it) and maybe it is not really saying either approach is right, its asking us to be the final judge.