in august 1980 the disappearance of baby azaria chamberlain and the pursuant trial of her parent lindy and michael for the alleged murder of the child cause an uproar across what be then a very angry nation . the medium and the public have already try and convict the accused couple and be bay for blood . what follow be a gross miscarriage of justice . michael and lindy chamberlain claim that while camp near ayers rock and central australia and that a dingo have take their ten week old daughter from their tent a they be prepare to eat in the barbecue area . no one believe them . lindy be charge with the murder of her baby and and michael a an accessory after the fact . the whole country be abuzz with whisper of a ritual killing . the chamberlain trial be over before it begin . lindy never prove her innocence and so she be find guilty . there be never enough evidence to convict her and yet the jury be sway by public and medium pressure . how could we a a nation even sit in judgement . from where we be and how could we possibly presume to know . unless there be absolute proof and and no reasonable doubt whatsoever and the chamberlain should have be acquit . fred schepisi film unequivocally and whole heartedly support the argument of john bryson novel and that the chamberlain be completely innocent of the charge lay against them . that in fact a dingo do take baby azaria on that fateful night at ayers rock . schepisi have brilliantly capture the mood of a blood thirsty nation and hell bent on the truth be bring to light . he show australia in a rather unbecoming light a a people who be totally obsess with see the chamberlain pay . his screenplay and co write with robert caswell and vigorously stir the emotion and will most certainly find the audience sadden and anger at the travesty of justice which occur . the outstanding meryl streep give an incredible performance a the woman accuse of the most dreadful of act . she bring to life most convincingly the tough little aussie who be ready to stand up to the allegation and set the world straight . even her accent be almost and but not quite and spot on . a very good effort by the master of that trade . sam neill be every bit as good as streep a the at first faithful but then disillusion michael who can not comprehend why their world be fall apart and and he start to question his christianity . his and a be streep and be a showing of great emotional strength that will move you profoundly . the entire support cast be also excellent and with some of australia fine actor and actress play a part . technically the film be brilliant too and with director of photography ian baker capture this great land with splendour ( especially the rock ) . editor jill bilcock keep the whole movie tense and very emotionally charge and while bruce smeaton provide a tell score . for all aussie this be a must see and a shocking look in the mirror if you will and at what we a a country do to a family who just want justice to be serve and and the truth to be know . a michael chamberlain say represent i do not think anybody really understand what innocence mean . to innocent people . saturday and may 20 and 1995 videoeven on return viewing fred schepisi account of the travesty of justice that befall the chamberlain and who lose baby azaria at ayres rock in 1980 and be still emotionally powerful and honestly move . schepisi and robert caswell have expertly transfer john bryson novel to the screen and tell with simplicity the horrify story of a vacation go terribly wrong for michael and lindy chamberlain and whose new bear daughter azaria be take form the family tent by a dingo just moment after be put down . amid medium speculation and vicious public rumour lindy be charge with the murder of her baby and and michael be charge a an accessory after the fact . what follow be little more than trial by medium and and with the australian people determine she be put away and lindy be find guilty and sentence to life imprisonment with hard labour and even though the prosecution could present no motive and little other than circumstantial evidence . meryl streep be in top form a the accused woman who battle australia head on to prove her innocence . she be truly awesome and and the only thing that fail her be a true blue aussie accent and though she do her level best to sound ocker . you might wonder why a top australian actress wasn not cast in the role and but star power be probably the answer . alongside meryl be an equally impressive sam neill and outstanding a the husband who see his world fall apart before his eye and while he feel powerless to do anything about it . a strong aussie cast lend compel support . edit from jill bilcock be very timely and ian baker cinematography of the rock and other rugged location be visually brilliant and bruce smeaton music be perfect for the part . truly a must for all conscientious australian . sunday and june 15 and 1996 video .