Shame (1988)

Asta Cadell, a lawyer traveling through the Australian Outback on holiday, stops in a small Western Australian town after her motorcycle breaks down and shacks up with Tim Curtis, the local... See full summary »

Director:

Steve Jodrell

Writers:

Beverley Blankenship, Michael Brindley

Stars:

Bill McCluskey, Allison Taylor, Deborra-Lee Furness

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill McCluskey	...	Ross (as Bill McClusky)
Allison Taylor	...	Penny
Deborra-Lee Furness	...	Asta Cadell
Tony Barry	...	Tim Curtis
Simone Buchanan	...	Lizzie Curtis
Gillian Jones	...	Tina Farrel
Peter Aanensen	...	Sgt. Wal Cuddy
Margaret Ford	...	Norma Curtis
David Franklin	...	Danny Fiske
Phil Dean	...	Gary
Stig Wemyss	...	Bobby (as Graeme 'Stig' Wemyss)
Douglas Walker	...	Andrew
Matthew Quartermaine	...	Brian
Matt Hayden	...	Wayne
Warren Jones	...	Bruce

Storyline

Asta Cadell, a lawyer traveling through the Australian Outback on holiday, stops in a small Western Australian town after her motorcycle breaks down and shacks up with Tim Curtis, the local mechanic, while fixing it. She then becomes involved in helping Curtis' teenage daughter, Lizzie, who has been recently date-raped by Danny Fiske, the son of a wealthy, well-known citizen and his gang. Asta persuades Lizzie to press charges against Danny, but the local population becomes determined to keep the incident a secret at any cost and soon Asta and the Curtis family's lives are in danger.

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Plot Keywords:

rape | societal hypocrisy | girl riding motorcycle | sergeant | independent film

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Taglines:

Their town has a secret . . .

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 July 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Cidade da Vergonha

Filming Locations:

Toodyay, Western Australia, Australia

Box Office

Gross:

$300,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Barron Entertainment, UAA Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in 40,000 Years of Dreaming (1997)

User Reviews

Shame about the small release

An excellent and absorbing Australian drama made and released in 1987, SHAME featuring Deborah Lee Furness is a genuine surprise powerhouse thriller. She plays a lawyer having a solo motorbike riding holiday when to her alarm, she gets trapped in a misogynistic country town. Local louts see her as "fair game" and then find the tables turned when her legal talons return to jail them for their brute behavior. A great role for any woman SHAME is well played by the talented and tough Furness. Interesting teen actor Simone Buchanan seen in the wonderful kids movie RUN REBECCA RUN is a local girl also terrorized by the boys.It is a combination of events against town women that sees Furness take a very tough legal stand, making the Civic leaders and their boozy blokes world accountable for this social damage. Possibly inspired by news items and well directed by Steve Jodrell, a (later) TV-only director SHAME did not get a big release thus crippling its initial available audience. Not screened on TV or profiled much after 1989, SHAME might benefit from a remake if the dynamics of this small taut film were slightly enlarged. Furness is the happy wife of Broadway performer and cinema X Man Hugh Jackman which is possibly why she is not seen on screens very often anymore.. A DVD release for SHAME is long overdue. A remake is also welcome. It is a good story and great pieces for strong unknown new actors. Other Australian films as strong similar references are THE BOYS and THE CARS THAT ATE Paris.