A Cry In The Dark (1988)

Set in 1980 Australia, a nine week baby girl is killed by a dingo during a family camping trip but her body is never found. After initial sympathy from the public, suspicion falls on the mother (Meryl Streep) and she is tried both in court and the court of public opinion for the murder of her child. Based on the non fiction book EVIL ANGELS by John Bryson and directed by Fred Schepisi (ROXANNE). Schepisi's film is a workmanlike example of the docudrama although he overdoes the public hysteria over the case. He's constantly cutting to the cynicism of the press or the tension among the citizens where feelings were very strong both pro and con regarding the case. Its effectiveness wears down after awhile because he's repeating himself. We got it the first few times. The movie contains one of Streep's very best performances (it won the best actress award at the Cannes film festival and she received an Oscar nomination). The actress-y mannerisms that often undermine her work are gone here. This is a woman who keeps her emotions in check and refuses to play to the sympathy of the press and public and this works against her. While Streep's performance was justifiably lauded, I wish Sam Neill's performance as the unraveling husband had gotten more attention. He's excellent in a performance that in some ways was more difficult than Streep's. With Bruce Myles and Charles Tingwell.