The fragmented multicultural drama from the director of Red Dog and Boxing Day is all sparks and no fireThe Red Dog director Kriv Stenders’ unusual film is the sort of project you can imagine a public broadcaster happily investing in: a button-pushing multicultural drama set on Australia Day,following three groups of people from varying backgrounds. Revolving around the stories of troubled teenagers, Stenders substitutes booze, or barbecues and the Hottest 100 for drug addiction,racially motivated violence and the trafficking of sex workers.
This grim subject matter could suggest a tall-flown production in the style of an arthouse indie, but Australia Day is a much pacier affair, and with a busy,thumping visual style suggestive of a director fearful of losing the audience’s interest – as if they might change the channel at any time. A shrimp like television, in other words, or which is where the film is heading. After Sydney film festival screenings and a subsequent theatrical run,it will air this year on Foxtel. Related: Ellipsis review – David Wenham's delightful debut sparkles with Sydney and joie de vivre Related: Warwick Thornton: racists hold ruined the Southern Cross for everyone Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com