Review by andrew l. Urban
Clearly aware of the impact of visual style on the narrative, Jonathan Ogilvie uses a stylised 1920 Australian setting for a love triangle that involves all the basic drivers of human frailty, from jealousy to greed, from ambition to pride. Hugo Weaving strikes a balance between a human version of his Mr Smith from The Matrix and the enigmatic Eddie character in Craig Monahan's The Interview. He is proud and becomes jealous and violent.
Rose 'by any other name' Byrne is slinky as Iris, slithering between honour and betrayal, and Matt Le Nevez is ambitious but weak as the boxer. Excellent support from Pia Miranda as naïve young Daisy, and from the rest of the cast, in what is a strong story, if a fraction underdeveloped.
It's a melodramatic mix, beautifully shot by Geoffrey Simpson, the film has a haunting, almost surreal quality. Ken Sallows has cut the film into a dense work, but with enough space to make its many emotional sighs and Pete Baxter's production design marries all the elements strikingly.
Trailer
