Saturday, January 7, 2012

Snowtown (2011)

Snowtown (2011)
Snowtown (2011)

Genre: Crime Drama
Director: Justin Kurzel
Starring: Lucas Pittaway, Bob Adriaens, Louise Harris, Daniel Henshall
Language: English
Duration: 120 min.
Rating: 7.8  

Summary:
When 16 year-old Jamie is introduced to a charismatic man, a friendship begins. As the relationship grows so does Jamie's suspicions, until he finds his world threatened by both his loyalty for, and fear of his new found father figure, John Bunting: Australia's most notorious serial killer.



Snowtown is the debut feature from Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel.  Written by Shaun Grant, it is based on real life events that occured in South Australia during the 1990's known as the Snowtown murders.  It premiered in the International Critic's Week section of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, where it received the FIPRESCI Special Mention Prize. 

Starting out with a thumping industrial sounding beat, and a deceptively calm view of the Australian countryside passing by at highway speeds, even the bizarre dream described to us by the narrator does not hint at the brutal, disturbing and often very difficult to watch film that is to come.  We are soon introduced to sixteen-year old Jamie Vlasskis (Lucas Pittaway), who lives in a squalid suburb of Adelaide with his single mother Elizabeth (Louise Harris) and two brothers.  But it's not enough that they are poor, his mother's current boyfriend, their neighbor from across the street, is a pedophile who makes Jamie and his brothers pose naked for pictures.  He is also routinely sexually abused by his older half brother Troy.   

This seriously unhealthy environment sets the stage for a charismatic newcomer to come in and easily be welcomed, by Liz as a protector for her boys, and by Jamie as the strong father figure he never had.  Just their luck though that this new positive influence happens to be Australia's worst serial killer, John Bunting.  Gradually, the sordid character and murderous intentions of John are revealed, and helplessly we watch as Jamie is methodically groomed to follow his sinister machinations. 

It's a confident and unflinching masterclass in ugliness, filled with grim lives, grim surroundings and grim deeds.  A film practically un-enjoyable to behold, but so well directed, acted, and scripted, that it's impossible to turn away as the scenario unfolds with wave after wave of sickening violence and brutality.  Not the kind done to shock, scare, or impress the audience, but the kind that makes you really question how and why people could do such things to each other. 

Snowtown is an awful film that takes us to the darkest corners of humanity, but this is by no means a poorly made film, and I do not regret watching it.  In fact, what Kurzel accomplishes here is so brilliantly powerful that it's hard not to recommend it to anyone with an open mind. 

Bonjour Tristesse

Snowtown (2011)

Snowtown (2011)

Snowtown (2011)

Snowtown (2011)

Snowtown (2011)

Snowtown (2011)

Snowtown (2011)

Snowtown (2011)

13 comments:

Bonjour Tristesse said...

 Cool, I look forward to reading your thoughts on it.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Haha, I do that sometimes.  The effects of growing up in a big city, and watching too many horror movies.

Tyler said...

This just came out in New Zealand on DVD a few days ago and I've been itching to watch it. Your review has sealed the deal. I'll see it in the next few days.

Lisa Thatcher said...

For historical Aust. Gothic there is The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, The cars that Ate Paris and (of course) Picnic at Hanging Rock.  Currently this 'new' gothic came out in films like Wolf Creek (also based on a serial killer- who killed tourists.. scary stuff... but not as close to the truth as Snowtown) but that has been slipped into the horror genre. The Eye of the Storm is another novel that used Aust Gothic, but Fred Schepisi has sublimated that aspect in the film that came out this year (although you can still see it, and the film is excellent anyway). Mostly it is in large scale television. Australia is in love with its own true crime at the moment. Another excellent twist on the gothic genre is The Proposition. That film uses the land as the source of anxiety in a more open way. Samson and Delilah has gothic elements as well.

Hoi-Ming Ng said...

Just yesterday some stranger did me a favor and I thanked him. As I walked away I wondered if he really was a "nice man" in truth...

d_4 said...

At first I was expecting an average movie. Similar have been done before.. but.. at this point after reading, watching and analyzing enough, I'm very curious to watch. Open mind? Seems I'm ready!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

It's interesting to hear an Australian's point of view on this, because I feel this film was made primarily for those in the know.  One thing I noticed, there was no mention that these were real events until the closing credits.  Something an American film would not hesitate to plaster up front.

What other Australian Gothic films would you recommend?

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yep, it will be a long time before I see this one again, if ever.  Thanks for stopping by Ruth!

Lisa Thatcher said...

I enjoyed this as well. As an Australian, it was an interesting film to watch. It plays with our bushranger mythology a lot (rescuing the poor against partisan unthinking police) and it is one of a series of films that give rise to a new style of Australian Gothic. Also, the Australian male psyche is examined here. It is an excellent film, but very disturbing - all the more so for being a portrayal of actual events.

Ruth Richards said...

I felt the same way. I don't regret watching it, and I left the cinema questioning how someone could do that to another person (I actually remember watching news coverage trials and appeals of the Snowtown murders) but I couldn't watch this again in a hurry because of how disturbing it is. 

FilmMasterT said...

When I am looking for world cinema to watch, I will always know to come here. Great review!

Lisa Thatcher said...

He he - It's tricky to recommend films to you, you've seen so many!  You have magnificent taste though and I am really enjoying your wonderful blog! :)

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thank you Lisa!  Picnic at Hanging Rock is one of my all time favorites, I've also seen Wolf Creek, and The Proposition, and enjoyed those two as well but I never realized there was a trend going on.  I will have to try and track down these others you mentioned.

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