Fred Schepisi directs Meryl Streep, Sam Neill and Dale Reeves in this Australian true story of a religious couple who lose their baby then the media storm and court case that follow when the general public turn against them.

Such a strange sad little story. The quote “The dingo stole my baby” was synonymous with Australia for my generation even if you never saw the movie. The Chamberlains are an awkward, difficult couple. Their reactions to grief do not fit with how the Australian viewing public assume people should behave after the loss of a child. Doubt turns to a chattering lynch mob. So after a long methodical recreation of the inciting incident (with just enough information left out so you are never fully trusting of the tragic event) we begin the witch hunt. Quick, fat free time leaping scenes where the media exploit and distort the couple, the hoi polloi gossip and theorize. Scant regard is given for the trauma the family suffer and they don’t help themselves by being a weird mob on and off camera. It ends in a gripping third act court case where both husband and wife are put through the emotional wringer. Hard to know how any of us would stand up to such systematic misfortune. I have never been Streep’s biggest fan but she is excellent here. Her irritating but the admirable take on Lindy Chamberlain in A Cry In The Dark justifies her reputation. The second and third sections move at a furious clip that it can almost feel like an hour long montage at times. The effect Schespisi creates is intentionally overwhelming on the viewer.

8

Perfect Double Bill: The Bridges of Madison County (1995)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/ and my own Substack https://substack.com/@edinburghlaughterbulletin