Well first I need to congratulate myself on finally making it to the Film Festival this year. Previously, the only film I've ever caught was a French vampire flick - Trouble Every Day - in, I think the 2003 offering (you know a film is truly grotesque when half the theatre empties itself). This time 'round I've made it to two: 'Van Diemen's Land' and 'The Man in the Hat.' The Tasmanian 'Van Diemen's Land' was an excersise in waiting for something - even meaningful character development - to happen. It captured the grit, hardship and emptyness of antipodean penal life, and the austere beauty of the deepest of forests; but for me became a progressively violent and albeit frustrating portrait of sheer stupidity. These men it seems, were doomed from day one: couldn't catch a cold if they tried, rather resorting to cannibalism. A quick read of Robert Hughes' chapter of the events in 'The Fatal Shore' should suffice.
'The Man in the Hat' on the other hand was a real treat. A morning's walk from Thorndon to Cuba Street set the scene for an honest portrait of McLeavey, of Cuba Street and of Wellington; the city that McLeavey says has allowed him to be himself, and to get away with a few things: 'I would've been dog tucka up in Auckland' he admits. Most enjoyable I felt were readings of correspondance between the dealer and his artists, typed and heart-felt; something that seems a bit lost nowadays. Apart from a few scenes that felt misplaced towards the end, a real gem.
Email me reviews and I'll post. Posted by Jeremy
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