BEAUTIFUL KATE - REVIEW AND Q&A Part I
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Director: Rachel Ward
Cast: Bryan Brown, Ben Mendelsohn, Rachel Griffiths,Sophie Lowe
Rating: 4/5
Beautiful Kate signals a return to cinema with a story, reliant on characters and plot-driven changes to fuel the story rather than rely on landscape to sell tickets. Ben Mendelsohn (Knowing,Australia) and Bryan Brown(Gorillas In The Mist, Australia) in their father-son relationship are at the centre of this story though a deeper narrative forms based on the relationship between Ned (Mendelsohn) and his sister Kate (Sophie Lowe).
Rachel Griffiths (TVsSix Feet Under,Brothers & Sisters) as Sally, plays the younger sister, who has been charged with caring for their father as his age and health succumb to cancer and he is left to spend his days bed ridden on the family farm.
Beautiful Kate
The absence of a mother figure from early on in the young childrens' lives is an obvious hurdle in their development as Bruce (Brown) continues to tow a hard line with the boys attempting to toughen their skins whilst Kate and Sal are generally left to discover life on their own as Bruce has no way of comprehending how to raise girls.
Adolescence brings Kate and Ned together and their bond as twins strengthens. Their older brother feels somewhat on the outer however he is seen as a soft touch compared to Ned and Kate still turns to him when she needs a lift somewhere and Ned refuses to take her.
Ned is a ladies man and makes no bones about it, something confirmed by his father when Ned brings Toni, his current squeeze, a waitress and aspiring actress across from Sydney to see his father after 20 years. Ned is a writer and uses this time on the farm to recharge his creative juices and reflect on the past, as fodder for his next book. When Toni finds the manuscript and uncovers secrets about the family history she disappears into the night preferring the big city and the lure of Hollywood to life on the farm.
With the absence of distraction (Toni) and the trapping of sights sounds and smells from his childhood Ned is forced to confront his past and re-evaluate his life and face his fears with his father.
The cinematography was beautifully done and although this was an outback setting, the fact that Bruce was generally confined to the home focussed the camera on the property in which the family lived with limited long range/post card shots. This also served to add focus to the story rather than the scenery.
The screenplay was adapted from an American book, though as writer/director Rachel Ward put it," it is a universal story so it was not that hard to adapt to an Australian setting.. and it was done very seamlessly indeed.
Among other things, the ending to the book was different and Sally leaves Ned to look after Bruce in the story though the script narrative was beautifully formed and its story stood up well on its own.
The film score by Tex Perkins was complimentary and effortless in its accompaniment and was richly woven into the intricate and powerful scenes in the feature.
The film is graphic,confronting and somewhat unnerving in its delivery of certain aspects of the narrative but it should not be pigeon-holed for its subject matter.
I hope this film finds an International audience. If the reaction from those who witnessed the screening with me on home soil is anything to go by, it will be remembered, not just for its impact but for its innovation and importance in shaping Australian Cinema.
Thanks again guys!!
I hope others can feel the same way and go and support Australian film. This is a fine example of what we are capable of in this country and it should be supported
-CR.