LAW & CULTURE

While the reception to this book was and market garden, to which Lurie retreats ROADSINGER muted at first, it received a massive after his impulsive affair. Yusuf; Island/Universal; $21.95 boost when Robert Drewe devoted his Lurie is confronted by the people who fortnightly column in The Age to sing its Three decades after embracing Islam, make up his daughter’s life: Bev Shaw, a praises, describing it as ‘the country’s finest changing his name and renouncing pop plump woman with ‘no neck’ who runs work of literature so far this century’. music, Yusuf Islam resurfaced with the a free veterinary clinic; Petrus, Lucy’s Soon afterwards it was shortlisted for The tepid 'A n O ther Cup’. Like many, I thought neighbour, an African man with tw o wives. Age ‘Book of the Year’ and other awards. that album meant he’d lost the old spark. A fter initial resistance, Lurie agrees to help I was sceptical, but won over. If I have a Wrong. It may have taken another three Bev at the clinic, which includes assisting criticism, it is that the book lacks a certain years, but 'Roadsinger (To Warm You her to euthanise unwanted animals. Lurie moral authority that characterises the very through the Night)’ signals a triumphant also learns to respect Petrus and his place finest books. Hooper seems ultimately return to the musical flair that once made in Lucy’s life. aghast at her subject — she admits to being Cat Stevens an archetypal singer-songwriter unable to stand H urley’s gaze in court, and Lurie and Lucy are savagely attacked at and global pop icon with 60 million album to ‘blubbering’ in the women’s toilets after the farm but she refuses to prosecute sales. His new C D is credited simply the verdict. the offenders. He sees this as a sign to ‘Yusuf’, suggesting a desire to avoid of weakness, possibly exposing her to controversy. The cover photos depict a O f course, she wants to present herself further attacks in the future. She insists on modern-day troubadour, guitar slung over like this. Hers is the stance of the novelist, managing her life as she sees fit. his back and Kombi van nearby featuring not the lawyer or human rights activist a white dove of peace; I guess a peace — and it works, powerfully, with this Lurie is forced to face his attitudes to van’s more realistic than a whole train. material. She deserves whatever prizes women, sex and power. Ultimately, he H ow ever there’s still a charming 70s hippie she gets — but that such a story should be apologises to the parents of the student naivety about the lyrics with their spiritual transmuted into literary prizes is a cause he seduced. The film has a strong South overtones. This happy, uplifting album may for wonder in itself. African feel, in which the main character not be quite in the ‘Tea for the Tillerman’ ‘recognis[es] the injustices of [the] past’ STEPHEN GRAY teaches law league, but its tasteful textures, resonant (Constitution of the Republic of South Africa at Monash University. acoustic guitars and hook-laden melodies 1996, Preamble), and seeks to remedy prompt highly-favourable comparisons. those wrongs. The novel’s author was Forget his imitators, Yusuf’s the real thing. DISGRACE born in South Africa and lived through As the opening song — one of the C D ’s the difficult transition from apartheid Directed by Steve Jacobs; adapted highlights — says, 'W elco m e Hom e’. for the screen by Anna Maria to democracy. ‘Disgrace’ follows a line . Monticelli; starring John Malkovich of South African films, such as ‘Tsotsi’ MIKE DALY is a journalist and Jessica Haines; 2008; I 18 mins. and ‘Cry, The Beloved Country’, which and music reviewer. emphasise forgiveness and healing. Perhaps it’s only when we lose everything, when we are completely defeated, that Lurie’s transformation from a self-absorbed we can begin to have compassion for chauvinist to a caring and compassionate others; through suffering comes grace. father and human being is played superbly Once a respected university professor, by John Malkovich. On the way to the tip now middle-aged, divorced and living with a load of dead dogs to be burnt, he alone, David Lurie teaches romantic pulls over on a quiet stretch of road. He poetry to disinterested students at a Cape crumples over the steering wheel, chest Town university. Sexual escapades with heaving. In a private moment, a rare show young women are his main diversion. of emotion. After sleeping with a student, however, The final scene sees Lurie returning to he is forced to resign — but refuses to Lucy’s farm. He comes to respect her apologise. Lurie lives by the dubious pragmatic and forgiving attitude, realising wisdom of the poetry he teaches: that a that she is no longer simply his daughter, beautiful woman is a rose to be plucked, but a capable and wise woman from whom that women are obliged to share their he could learn a great deal. beauty with men. BILL SW ANNIE is a Melbourne solicitor The focus of the film, and the Booker interested in human rights. Prize-winning novel byj M Coetzee, is the complex relationship between Lurie and his daughter Lucy. Lucy runs a small farm 12 — AltLJ Voi 34:3 2009