27A
(1974)
Director
- Esben Storm
Writer - Esben Storm
Starring
- Robert McDarra, Bill Hunter, Graham Corry, Richard Moir,
James Kemp, Rick Creaser, David Curtiss, Tom Farley, Peter
Gailey, Bob Lee, Philip Jay, Rick Ireland, Karl Florsheim,
John Marshall, Bob Maza
Review by Noel Bailey
Who's criminally insane here, Bill Donald or the enforcers
of the Queensland Health Act?
Extreme
thought-provoking docudrama here.
Based
on a true story, Bill Donald is a middle-aged loser, and an
alcoholic who finally turns to AA for assistance. Following
a psychiatric examination and by invoking the notorious Queensland
Health Act No 27A, authorities commit Bill to a hospital for
the criminally insane, pending his ability to prove himself
eligible for release.
This
is the story of one man's challenge to the validity of the
Law. Bill Donald may be a liar, a cheat, an entrenched alcoholic
but he is also just one man trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare.
Esben
Storm has done a fine job with this film. It is compulsive
viewing. Robert McDarra also, hands in a more than capable
characterisation of Bill Donald, not an easy role to play
here.
Recommended
entertainment in my opinion.
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