4

ores,

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MISSING. A Costa-Gavras film
Starring Jack Lemmon, Sissy Spa-
Cek and John Shea. At local the-
atres.

“T am a Chilean exile; what we
have seen here is the truth.”’ The
| young man in the audience was
the first to speak after a preview
Screening of Missing in Berkeley.
_Itis a terrible truth made so vi-
Vid it is a real effort to keep your
eyes on the screen as the events of
the fascist coup in 1973 unfold —
the killings, the rounding up of
men, women and children, the
manic sound of helicopters, gun-
fire, bombings, the burning of
books.

And the complicity of the Unit-
€d States from the very beginning
(denied, of course, by the am-
bassador). All this comes to light
in the course of a “‘decent Ameri-
Can’s”’ search for his son.

Middle-aged businessman Ed
Horman (Lemmon) flies from

Missing: ‘terrible truth’

the U.S. to an unnamed (in the:
film) South American country
when he learns from his daugh-
‘ter-in-law (Spacek) that his son,
Charles (Shea) has been missing
since the first days of the coup.

At first disapproving of the
couple’s bohemian lifestyle (the
son is a writer and filmmaker),
and sure his son must have “‘done
something”? to be arrested — if
indeed he was — the father finally
faces up to the terrible reality.

It is fascinating to watch Lem-
mon as illusion after illusion falls
away and he comes to understand
the meaning of the coup and the
reasons for the runaround he has
been getting from U.S. and Chi-
lean authorities.

Together, the young wife and
father search hospitals, morgues
— seeing thousands of bodies,
filmed in such a way as not to be
depersonalized but with almost
subliminal impact — accompan-
ied by the U.S. consul. (David

Clennon plays that role, a
smooth-talking opportunist, with
«conviction.)

In flashbacks we learn of the
outgoing, humanistic qualities of
young Horman and his friends
(two of them are also herded into
the notorious stadium-turned-
concentration: camp). We also
learn that young Horman has
stumbled on the U.S.-CIA role.
Heis an inveterate notetaker, and
‘‘dangerous.””’

The people and events in Miss-
ing are real. It all happened in
Santiago in 1973 and was docu-
mented by Thomas Hauser. Save
the Hormans’, names have been
changed — to protect the film,
the producer explains, from being
tied up in legalities. And the place
has been deliberately generalized
so that, as Costa-Gavras says, “‘it
can be interpreted as happening
currently — in some place like El
Salvador.”’

—Pele De Lappe
People’s World

THE ISLAND. A Westcoast Act-
Os’ production directed by Robert
Mohr. At the Waterfront Theatre
on Granville island, to Apr. 3. —

The effects of South Africa’s

, *Partheid system are given a
' human, if not political dimension
In the Westcoast Actors group’s

latest offering, The Island.
Set in that country’s infamous

Ween two inmates jailed for infrac-
“ions of the notorious Pass Laws.
_ Given the subject matter, a play
ke Island has the potential to
lucate international audiences on
© horrors of a penal institution
that has entombed South African
Tationists like Nelson Mandela.
€t Fugard’s play almost
transcends its subject to become an
Indictment of brutal prison systems
and the laws that support them
anywhere in the world. As such, the
Political impact is somewhat
blunted,

However, Island through its
earthly and realistic dialogue pro-
vides keen psychological insight in-
to the effects of an inhuman system
on the protagonists, John (William
Hall, Jr.) and Winston (William
Taylor). Brutalized by hard labor
and indiscriminate attacks by their
white overseers, the prisoners
struggle to maintain their dignity
and uphold the ‘‘ideals’? which
have placed them there.
“Fo'keep body and soul together
John and Winston indulge in brief
fantasies. Some of Island’s most
emotional moments are realized
when John utilizes a drinking cup
to pretend he is phoning home, and
when Winston presents ‘‘movies”’
to his cellmate. The two are also
engaged, albeit somewhat reluc-
tantly in Winston’s case, in rehears-
ing their presentation of Sophocles’
Greek tragedy, Antigone, for a
prison’show.

The selection of Antigone is no
accident. The play, with its theme
on the virtue of moral laws over
man-made laws, is a conscious
metaphor of South Africa’s apar-
theid system. In fact, Island itself

| Human metaphor on apartheid

grew out of a process of improvisa-
tion around Sophocles’ play by
Fugard and actors John Kani and
Winston Ntshona.

Island must be seen as represen-
ting the most broadly-based op-
position to South Africa’s apar-
theid system. Through it we are
given little information on the
‘deals’ for which John and
Winston stand, other than that
they are obviously opposed to
South Africa’s racist laws. The fact
that the play premiered in South
Africa and is directed here by
visiting South African Robert
Mohr, who professes moderate
views on reforms in his country, is
perhaps an indication of the
relative strength of the opposition
from South African’s liberal white
minority which, for the sake of ap-
pearances, the regime must
tolerate.

Shows Monday through Thurs-
day are accompanied by a discus-
sion on South Africa, which in-
cludes contributions from
members of the local Southern
African Action Coalition.

— Dan Keeton

3

"CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

COMING EVENTS

oo

MAR. 19 — COPE film-pub night. .
Vie “You Have Struck a Rock”
South Africa), and “Women in

(Nicaragua). Oddfellows
all, 1720 Gravely St. Doors open 7
P.m., first film 7:45.

ae

MAR. 27 — Solidarity with Youth
Cafe, Templeton Park Hall, 700
Templeton Dr. Doors open 8 p.m.,
entertainment 9 p.m. Enjoy at-
mosphere with folk music, variety
of table games, coffee and snacks.
Families encouraged to attend.
Adm. $3.

M VICTORIA

AR. 22 — Hear Communist Par-

V Leader Maurice Rush, “An Alter-

Native Program to Controls”, 7:30

Bm. Charter Rm., Watters
Uilding, 990 Market St.

> ie

APR. 3 — FRC spring bazaar, 12
’ Campbell Ave. Ph.

on, 600

35-6488, Bake sale, Russian food.
Upper 5 p.m.

ea

MAY 16 & 17 — ODETTA at the
E Playhouse. Tickets at CBO, 501
i. Georgia, ph. 687-2801 and at all
Wer mainiand Woodward's

>=

COMMERCIAL

CONDOR’S PAINTING & build-

ing maintenance. Free estimate.”

Phone 433-1145. A progressive firm
owned and ‘operated by Chilean
Canadians. Reasonable rates.

GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS.
Complete printing services.
Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc.
Special rates for the progressive
movement. A union shop. 1595 W.
3rd Ave., Van. 733-6822.

ROOF REPAIRS — New roofs.
Reasonable. or 277-3352.

ELECTRICAL, plumbing, appli-
ance repairs. Don Berg. 255-7287.

FOR SALE

LOVE SEAT bed chesterfield.
Good cond., $250. 526-3975.

1981 LADA yellow, brown stripe,
radials., Only 2,200 km, like new.
Best offer, cash. Best car | ever
had, selling due to illness. Nick,
253-8364.

“CANADA’S PARTY OF
SOCIALISM: History of the Com-
munist Party of Canada,
1921-1976.” Now available from the
People’s Co-op Bookstore, 353
West Pender St. $14.95 paper,
$29.95 cloth. Please note: store
now closes at 5:30 p.m. Fridays.

LEGAL SERVICES

RANKIN, McMURRAY &
BOND, Barristers and Solicitors.
157 Alexander St., 2nd Floor, Van-
couver. 682-3621.

RANKIN & COMPANY

Barristers & Solicitors

4th Floor, 195 Alexander St.,
Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1N8

682-2781
Offers a broad range of legal services including:
@ Labour Law
® Criminal Law
@ Estates and Wills

@ Personal Injury and Insurance Claims
@ Real Estate and Conveyancing
@ Divorce and Family Law

NANAIMO
Earl Robinson

composer of Joe Hill, Ballad for Americans -

A Salute to Labor
Friday, Apr. 2, 8 p.m.
Bowen Park Complex, Nanaimo

Tickets available at:

Kelly's Stereo Mart, Alberni 724-4428

Grennan’s Records, Parksville 248-9413

Puff N’ Stuff, Chemainus 246-9811 ,
Nanaimo Ticket Centre, 495 Dunsmuir St. 754-1411
(Ask about group rates)

Book Bargains

ANNUAL SALE |
Mar. 29-Apr. 10

Mon.-Sat.
9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

20-40% Off

Every Book in the Store
People’s Co-op Bookstore

353 W. Pender St. Vancouver 685-5836 |

)

JOIN THE GREAT
Ge AWS

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GLOBE

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the best way for you!

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PACIFIC TRIBUNE— MARCH 19, 1982—Page 7

253-1221

Pe ee oe

Seer ae