The Car Chase in Films from Six Different Countries

In America, it’s Steve McQueen
Ford Mustang crash bang Bullitt
streets of San Francisco stuff;
Germany, there’s a focus
upon needles on dashboard gauges
rising dangerously into the red;
France, it’s a character study:
the wily, corrupt old cop
emotionally torturing
his wet behind the ears sidekick
while letting the villains get away.
In Italy, everything’s frantic
- arguing, gesticulating,
crooks and carabinieri
equally incompetent.
In India? A series of cuts from the chase
to floridly attired
singing and dancing girls,
jangling bracelets of bells,
while, in Iceland, the car is driven
by an unaccountably nude
unselfconscious blonde au pair,
with her precocious seven-year-old male charge
both passenger and navigator.
Then, in Australia, there is a ute
pursued along a dusty
outback road to vanishing point,
rifle fire, tinnies,
swearing and scattering kangaroos.

About the Poet
___________________________________________________________________________________

Kevin Densley lives in Melbourne. His poetry has appeared in various Australian publications, including Quadrant, Adelaide Review, Muse, Verandah and Mattoid -and also numerous UK publications including Other Poetry, The Journal and Cadenza. He also writes plays (with Steve Taylor). These have been performed Australia-wide. Densley and Taylor have co-authored nine books and one CD-Rom – mainly play collections for young people. His latest book is the play Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press in 2003.

Email: mugme2@yahoo.com.au