Amongst Barbarians (1990) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

In Penang, relatives struggle to save two Englishmen facing the death penalty, while their failed intervention exposes their racism and leaves the meaning of barbarism in question.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Arrest in Penang

The story is set in Penang, where two young Englishmen are arrested for drug trafficking. Their legal predicament places them at risk of the death penalty.

Key Events

• Penang, Malaysia — The story is set in Penang, a former British colony. Location: Penang, Malaysia
• Two Englishmen Arrested — Two young Englishmen are arrested for drug trafficking. Location: Penang, Malaysia
• Death Penalty Threat — Both arrested men face the death penalty. Location: Penang, Malaysia

A Family Rescue Mission

The men's relatives travel to Penang in an effort to rescue them. They try to influence the authorities, but their efforts prove futile.

Key Events

• Death Penalty Threat — Both arrested men face the death penalty. Location: Penang, Malaysia
• Relatives Travel to Penang — The men's relatives travel to Penang to try to rescue them. Location: Penang, Malaysia
• Rescue Efforts Begin — The relatives attempt to influence the authorities on the men's behalf. Location: Penang, Malaysia

The Failure to Intervene

The relatives come to understand that they cannot save the young men. Their inability to change the outcome sharpens the story's sense of helplessness.

Key Events

• Rescue Efforts Begin — The relatives attempt to influence the authorities on the men's behalf. Location: Penang, Malaysia
• Limits of Influence — The relatives discover they cannot save the young men. Location: Penang, Malaysia

The Unanswered Accusation

The relatives' racism becomes apparent as they pursue help. The story closes around an unresolved question about who should be considered barbaric.

Key Events

• Racism Exposed — The relatives' racism becomes apparent during their futile attempts. Location: Penang, Malaysia
• Question of Barbarism — The story leaves open who the real barbarians are. Location: Penang, Malaysia

Story Breakdown

• Penang Setting — The story takes place in Malaysia, a former British colony.
  • Former Colony — Penang is identified as a former British colony.
  • Distant Britain — The setting is far from Thatcher's Britain.
• Drug Arrests — Two young Englishmen are arrested in Penang for drug trafficking.
  • Two Englishmen — The arrested men are described as young Englishmen.
  • Trafficking Charges — Their arrests are for drug trafficking.
• Capital Stakes — Both men face the death penalty, making their situation grave.
  • Death Penalty — The men face capital punishment.
  • Urgent Danger — The threat of execution motivates their relatives' efforts.
• Relatives Arrive — The men's relatives travel to Penang hoping to rescue them.
  • Journey to Penang — The relatives travel to Malaysia after the arrests.
  • Rescue Motive — Their stated purpose is to save the young men.
• Appeals to Authority — The relatives try to influence the authorities but cannot secure a rescue.
  • Influence Attempts — The relatives make efforts to affect the authorities' decisions.
  • Futile Intervention — They discover there is nothing they can do to save the men.
• Racism Revealed — The relatives' racism becomes apparent during their attempts to intervene.
  • Conduct Exposed — Their behavior makes their racism evident.
  • Moral Scrutiny — The story places their conduct alongside the accusations against the arrested men.
• Barbarism Questioned — The story leaves implicit the question of who the real barbarians are.
  • Unspoken Question — The central question is never made explicit.
  • Open Judgment — The audience is left to consider who deserves the label.

Directed by

Jane Howell

Key Cast

• David Jason — George
• Rowena Cooper — Wendy
• Anne Carroll — Toni
• Lee Ross — Bryan
• Con O'Neill — Ralph