Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Meryl Streep | ... | Lindy | |
Sam Neill | ... | Michael | |
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Dale Reeves | ... | Aidan, 6 years |
David Hoflin | ... | Aidan, 8 years | |
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Jason Reason | ... | Aidan, 11 years |
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Michael Wetter | ... | Reagan, 4 years |
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Kane Barton | ... | Reagan, 6 years |
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Trent Roberts | ... | Reagan, 9 years |
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Lauren Shepherd | ... | Azaria |
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Bethany Ann Prickett | ... | Azaria |
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Alison O'Connell | ... | Azaria |
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Aliza Dason | ... | Azaria |
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Jane Coker | ... | Kahlia, New Born |
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Rae-Leigh Henson | ... | Kahlia, 18 months |
Nicolette Minster | ... | Kahlia, 4 years |
Based on the true story of Lindy Chamberlain. During a camping trip to Ayers Rock in outback Australia, she claimed that she witnessed a dingo stealing her baby daughter, Azaria, from the family tent. Azaria's body was never found. Police noted some apparent inconsistencies in her story, and she was charged with murder. The case attracted a lot of attention, turning an investigation into a media circus, with the public divided in their opinions. Written by Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au>
When I first saw "A Cry in the Dark", I had no idea what the plot was. But when I saw it, I was shocked at what it portrayed. When I saw it a second time in an Australian Cinema class, I realized a second point: communication issues. You see, when a dingo snatched Lindy Chamberlain's (Meryl Streep) baby, she and her husband Michael (Sam Neill) were grief-stricken but didn't show it. As Seventh Day Adventists, they believed that God willed this to happen, and so they couldn't mourn it. But when people all over Australia saw their lack of sadness, everyone started believing that Lindy did it herself.
The point is, the wrong message got communicated to the public, and it turned people against Lindy. Even though this was a pure accident, it still happened. It may be one of the biggest disasters resulting from the existence of mass media, regardless of any media outlet's political views.
As for the performances, Streep does a very good job with an Australian accent (no surprise there), and Sam Neill is equally great. You will probably get blown away just by what you see here. Definitely one of Fred Schepisi's best movies ever.