Billy from Film in Revolt hit the ground running at SXSW Sydney. He shares his highs and lows in the film programme.
Pure Scum
A Melbourne-based independent film whose cast and crew I truly hope go places for the sheer tenacity of getting this film made. Ultimately, however, when it comes down to it, the film itself struggles in almost every way. Biting off more than it can chew, this alleged exploration of entitled young men who believe they can do what they want turns into a messy and shallow genre flick. With an ending that has no teeth but presents itself as profound. If you want to watch a film about men struggling to deal with their emotions and feeling so entitled that the world needs to bend around them, do yourself a favour and watch John Cassavetes’ Husbands instead.
Forge
This is a marvellously brilliant film, truly an absolute joy to watch from beginning to end. The film follows two siblings and their art-forging hustle in their home city of Miami. It’s fun, it’s tense, it has some interesting ideas about art forgery, and it has wonderfully detailed characters. From the second the film starts, you are aware that you are in the hands of a director who knows what they are doing. I hope this is released widely because I want to see it again and again. I’ll be keeping an eye out for the director Jing Ai Ng and what she makes next.
Bulk
Oh, there is no way to give a synopsis of this film. This movie is an absolute freak show, and I love it. Bulk centres on an over-the-top and ridiculous plot, which the film doesn’t mind if you lose track of. I actually think it is daring you too, and that’s half the fun, figuring out what the hell is going on. The film is a low-budget extravaganza that uses fun and terrible effects, often bringing focus to how fake they are, and yet somehow still creates a genuinely epic film in its scope. It feels like a crazy Doctor Who spin-off in the best way possible.
Blondi
This short film, playing before Bulk and co-written by Peter Greenaway, is genuinely brilliant and moving. The idea on paper of a short from the perspective of Hitler’s dog sounds so gimmicky, but here it is so elegantly done that it genuinely brings out the nazi’s and Hitler’s humanity in such a short time span. Doing so with humour and yet never undermining the seriousness of the conversations we are hearing. Following through on the old outrage about the mundanity of evil. It’s an idea that isn’t new but done in a refreshing way that gets its point across sharply, quickly, emotionally and with a great deal of fun. I have no idea how this film came to be so perfect, but all I can say is everyone working on this short is firing on all cylinders, even the dog cameraman.
Break a Leg is set up as a two-hander set entirely in a theatre where two actors have come to give an audition for a director who hasn’t shown up. The door somehow gets locked and a storm rages outside. What starts as some banter begins to get hurtful and what starts as an innocent situation begins to become more sinister. The film is fun and creepy, exploring some ideas of the ‘nice guy’, it achieves everything it sets out to do, leaving a smile on your face as it does it. Though it could have been a bit shorter it stands at a great example of how much filmmakers get out of having very little resources.
Alice Maio Mackay is an Australian treasure. Here she delivers with another joyous whirlwind of a film. Many filmmakers attempt to make trashy b-films especially in horror, it’s a beloved genre in the indie scene. Yet it seems so few of these films hit the highs she is able to reach. Here in her newest film we follow a trans girl who discovers she has x-men like powers, her girlfriend who teaches her how to use these powers and a curse accidentally brought upon a young man causing him to wreak havoc on the streets of Adelaide. The greatest strength of the film is its characters who are so likable, so much so that you just want to hang out with them. Which thankfully the film lets you do by acting almost like a hangout at times, letting the plot take a back seat every now and then so we can just hang.
Dog of God is dark and expressive, full of incredible imagery and a uniquely enticing tone. The animation is fantastic and so is the pounding score. It’s a true pleasure and horror to be able to trek through the filth, the blood and folk lore of this rough gem.
Westgate is a powerfully realistic film set in the 90’s in Melbourne about a mother who is in debt and her son who has seizures. Following these two for a day we get to explore these characters which is done so well very quickly you get the feeling that you completely know them. The film shows people being at their low points and being terrible while not necessarily shaming just observing them. Though the film is simple in it’s style and grammar, it’s power lies in the fantastic script and performance that grabs you without letting go for a second.