Displaying items by tag: Genevieve Lemon

THE APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO RACE

Australia, 2023, 98 minutes, Colour.

Claire van der Boom, Katie Wall, Genevieve Lemon, Tiriel Mora, Robyn Nevin, Olivia Stambouliah, Andrew Ryan, Cecelia Peters, Maggie Dence, Darren Gilshanen. John Gaden.

Directed by Lynn Hegarty.

This is a pleasant piece of Australiana. It is based on a play by Melanie Tate, a play which focused on five women characters and their discussion about life in their town and issues of gender equality. While this core remains the same, the film opens out the action quite extensively, lots of location photography, a wider cast – and the cast are a very welcome assembly of quite a number of veteran Australian stars of stage and screen.

The film is based on a potato race in the southern Highlands of New South Wales country town of Robertson, the home of the playwright. And a lot of the film was filmed in these locations.

So, a lot of pictures of ordinary Australian life in the country. Also, the old traditions for country fairs and potato races. But, a key issue, the prize for the men in winning the race is far more than that allotted for the women. And a lot of satire on male chauvinism.

The sister of the local champion is visiting and takes up the cause, clashes with the men in the town, some sabotaging, and the raising of enough money to have an equal prize.

Easy entertainment but with that gender equality important issue.

1. The title and expectations? Based on a successful theatre play? Adapted for the screen by the writer?
2. The country town, the countryside, potato crops, homes, doctor’s surgery, meeting all, shops, the atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The annual festival, memory of the men working the potato feels, the origin of the race, Aunty Barb and her disguising herself as a man, the establishing of the women’s race? The family tradition, winning the races, Nikki and her 10 years of winning, the trophies?
4. Penny as the centre of the story, selling her home in Sydney, packing up, with Mabes, driving, arriving in Appleton, her having left home years before, to meet her family again, the relief practice, the encounter with Joan Bunyan and her strictness, the patients, her hoping to settle?
5. The family, Barb and Bob, bringing up Nikki and Penny, Nikki and her husband, Mark, his loss of job, drugs? Ethan, clumsy, his apprenticeship, Elliot, the gift of the guitar, his musical ambitions? The young baby? The irony of Mark being Joan Bunyan’s son? And the revelation of Gavin as Joan’s son? The party, rivalry between Nikki and Penny, the stoush with the cake? Indication of things to come?
6. Penny, the encounter with the doctor, his retirement, his training her, his story, his partner, living in the town, the gradual acceptance, revered? His advice for Penny, the scene with him on the horse, getting her to pat the horse and calm down?
7. The range of clients, knowing her from the past? Her friendliness?
8. Nicky, Barb training her for the race, her wanting to win the last one, turning 40? Difficulties at home, Mark and lack of a job, the drugs, the baby swallowing the drugs and Penny coming to the rescue? The rivalry between the two sisters, their perspectives on staying and leaving the town?
9. The issue of the race, the prize money for the race, $2000 for the men, $200 for the women? Penny, taking up the cause, going to the meeting of the committee, Joan and Barb the only ones present? Joan and his strictness with the rules, times, general business, Penny making her case? The decision to pursue it, preparing the posters, around the town, the money box, the collection, Miss Vaughan and her worry about cancer, her donation, feminist? The men and their hostility? Doorknocking, refusals?
10. The attitude of the men, the three Bobs, committee, but never going, the old Mann in the town and their memories, Gavin Bunyan as the spokesman for the chauvinist point of view, his harshness, threats to Penny? His speech at the general meeting, his stubbornness, at home with Mark and his mother, his mother’s exasperation? Sack of potatoes and his making the opening, causing the difficulty during the race? The later reprimand, and from his mother?
11. The radio announcer, the days before the race, keeping the population up-to-date?
12. Hostility towards Penny, people refusing to come for help, the effect on her?
13. Nickki’s 40^th birthday, the clash and truth telling between the two sisters, Mark and his affectionate speech and memories, Nikki overcome, leaving? Penny feeling very bad? Thinking to go back to the city?
14. Nikki and her attitude, not worrying about the money, the training? The news of the money, the meeting, $10,000, the many girls coming from round about to join in the race, the media coverage, the online campaign and its success, Elliot and Miriam and their work? Nickki as a hero to the young women, selfies?
15. The race itself, Penny deciding to run, the potatoes spilling, Penny falling, Nikki coming back and not winning, Miriam winning and the celebration, the two sisters reconciled, carrying the sack together and finishing the race? The family’s joy, Barb and Joan kicking the men out of the commentary box?
16. The importance of the issues about equality between men and women, the lack, Barb and her looking at the photos, preparing the collage of photos, the history of the race, her determination?
17. A pleasant piece of rural Australiana?

KANGAROO

Australia, 2025, 107 minutes, Colour

Ryan Corr, Lily Whiteley, Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair, Ernie Dingo, Trish Morton-Thomas, Brooke Satchell, Rachel House, Roy Billing, Clarence Ryan, Rick Donald, Rob Carlton, Genevieve Lemon, Shaun Martindale.

Directed by Kate Woods.

A film that definitely lives up to its title, not just a kangaroo, many kangaroos and a lot of little joeys. This is an enjoyable film aimed at all the generations, a family entertainment.

We soon realise that the story is familiar enough, that we know what is going to happen but the enjoyment is seeing how it happens. The film opens in the red centre of Australia, near Alice Springs, a young girl running with the kangaroos. She is Charlie, Lily Whiteley, sad at the death of her father, living with her mother (the always welcome Deborah Mailman), some tantrums, missing school, looking after joeys. She bonds with her grandparents, Wayne Blair and Trish Morton-Thomas.

But then the film cuts to Sydney, Bondi Beach, a rather vainly self-important TV weather forecaster, Chris Masterson, played by Ryan Corr. Always after self-promotion, he rushes rashly to save a dolphin – but with dire consequences for the dolphin and for his TV career. In hopes for a new start in Broome, he drives his luxury car cross-continent. (In fact, there is an ugly backlash against Chris Masterson, extreme trolling on social media, insults, online bullying, placards and demonstrations, played for laughs but this experience in reality is vengeful and cruel not so very funny.)

People in the ouitback do not take kindly to city slickers like Chris Masterson. And, when he comes to Silver Creek, they all know who is and mock him.

Then, the dramatic impact. He hits a kangaroo on the road, discovers that there is a joey in the pouch, rescues it – and begins his serious path to caring for kangaroos and for some kind of self-redemption. The opening notes that the film is inspired by a true story and, as often at the end, there are photos of the real Chris – and, in the credits, he is there as wrangling the kangaroos for the film.

As expected, he meets Charlie, there is a bonding with the kangaroos, he is delayed in Silver Creek for the car to be repaired (by Charlie’s uncle played chucklingly by Ernie Dingo). The townspeople are initially mocking or sarcastic, especially Jessie, Rachel House, who runs the local, and Murray, Roy Billing, who sits sipping but is a learned old codgers and tutors the local children.

But, the invitation is to see kangaroos especially Roger, the battling kangaroo, and experience the beauty of the Australian outback, kangaroos in motion, protecting the joeys, Charlie facing her crises, Chris in a lot of farcical situations but eventually coming through, townspeople coming onside, the enjoyment of the local dry river boat race, and, social media having the opportunity to redeem itself, lots of postings and videos of Chris with the kangaroos and his becoming something of a national hero.

Happy ending that continues to the present – and this film will do no harm to tourist possibilities for central Australia.

1. The title and so many kangaroos and joeys? Kangaroos and their place in Australia? As perceived from overseas?
2. The Northern Territory settings? Mountains, the deserts, the towns, Alice Springs? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Charlie, alone, running with the kangaroos? Her situation, mourning the death of her father, the photos, the kangaroo totem, his links? Charlie, resentment towards her mother, her behaviour towards her mother? Her grandparents and the bonds? Aloof from the other kids at school? Looking after the kangaroos, in her room, her mother disapproving? Her not going to school?
4. The transition to Chris Masterson, Bondi beach, the weather, Liz as his producer, the stunts? The criticism of his style and personality? The situation with the dolphin, his going in, trying to save the dolphin, promoting himself, the aftermath, the death of the dolphin, the reason for its taking refuge?
5. The social media response, hostility, bullying, the ugly side of social media and condemnation? The television authorities, his being sacked? People demonstrating, placards, shouting, abuse?
6. The possibility of a new job, the discussions with Joel, the promises, Broome, his decision to go by car, out in the countryside, arriving at Silver Creek, the flash car, the kids, his reaction, the city slicker, presumption, the bad impression with Jessie, her mockery, Murray at the bar, his education, teaching the kids? Chris leaving, the drive, preoccupied, passing Charlie, hitting the kangaroo, its death, retrieving the joey? Caring for it, taking it into the town, Jessie’s harsh reaction, the butcher and his meat, the authorities?
7. Charlie and her uncle, driving, joking, the mechanic, to fix the car? Charlie, meeting her grandparents, going to the shed, the joke about the toilet, the comedy of Chris in the uncomfortable surroundings, with Liz, the joey? The increasing number of joeys to look after, meeting Rosie, the discussions with her, going to Alice Springs, the vet, advising that Liz be put down? His reaction?
8. The gradual transformation of Chris, not so much focusing on himself, putting up with the hardships? Charlie, the bond, finding more joeys, finding Roger, big, pugnacious, the increasing number of kangaroos, the extension of the compound, the fighting confrontation with Roger and Chris losing? The townspeople becoming more interested?
9. The focus on the children in the town, the races, together, school, sports, the attitude towards Charlie? The change, the kangaroos, the helping Charlie to abduct the kangaroos?
10. The adults in the town, the indigenous presence, characters, aboriginal law, Charlie’s father and his art, Rosie curating the exhibition, Charlie and Chris looking at her father’s painting of the kangaroos? Jesse as tough, her restaurant? Murray, drinking, cheerful, with the kids, range of subjects and learning? The butcher, coming at night with his friends, the Wake in Fright scenario, Jessie warning them off? The women of the town? The flirty woman of the shop? The officer at the police station? And the tourists, and Chris driving the bus?
11. The celebrations, the boat race, like the race in the Todd River at Alice Springs, the variety of boats, dressing up, the race itself, Charlie and the kangaroos, the elderly women coming through and winning? The happy atmosphere?
12. Chris, the bad reputation, everybody in Silver Creek knowing about him, the mockery? His work with the kangaroos, social media and the reverse of abuse, fame, the followers, the celebration, his becoming a celebrity? The phone calls to Joel and the fiasco of his career? Charlie and her removing the gasket and his car delayed? Liz, her arrival, the proposal for the show, his dilemma?
13. The townspeople, not wanting him to stay? Charlie, upset, taking the joeys, the bus, driving into the desert?
14. Chris, his dilemma, his ambitions, his being accepted and welcomed, in the car, driving to find Charlie, his collapse in the desert, not staying in his car, the phone calls to advise him, Charlie finding him, Roger finding him, the rescue?
15. Chris, the decision to stay, his being welcomed, friendship and acceptance? In the care for the kangaroos? His finding his place, Charlie and his challenge about her aloneness after her explanations about her father, her being welcomed by the kids are school, playing football, her kick?
16. Inspired by a true story, and the photos at the end? The sanctuary for the kangaroos? And the real Chris actually ranking the kangaroos for the filming?

RUNT

Australia, 2024, 91 minutes, Colour.

Jai Courtney, Lily LaTorre, Matt Day, Jack Thompson, Deborah Mailman, Genevieve Lemon, Jack LaTorre, Celeste Barber, Joel Jackson, Sarah Roberts, Tom Budge.

Directed by John Sheedy.

Everybody loves Runt – well, everybody except the archvillain, Fergus Fink. Even those who might profess themselves as non-dog lovers are quickly on the side of Runt. He is a stray, mixed breed, chased around the town by the authorities and angry shopowners where he has nabbed some sausages. But, he is small, non-threatening, and often, as the Americans say, he is “cute”.

We are in a West Australian town in the middle of a long, long drought, threats to the farmers, threats to the economy, and the vain and greedy landowner with the significant pun in his name, Earl Robert-Barren, Jack Thompson enjoying himself playing most arrogant! We are in sympathy with dad, Joe Courtney, inheriting the land from his father, and grandfather, an inventor, and in sympathy with mum, Celeste Barber (very nice but a bit too often the target of complaint about the terrible pies she makes). And a lively gran is at home, Genevieve lemon.

But the focus is on the children, especially Annie, 10 years old, played very confidently by Lily LaTorre. She instantly bonds with Runt and he becomes part of the family. Also at home is her older brother, Max (played by Lily’s actual older brother Jack LaTorre) who videos all his action stunts building up an extraordinary fan following and providing some exciting moments as well is plot developments with his daring-do.

After establishing the family characters and their problems, attention turns to the local fair, especially a competition an Agility Course Championship involving a whole range of dogs speeding through quite a complex obstacle course. Enter the moustachioed villain, Fergus Fink (veteran Matt Day as we have never seen him before), moustachioed, glittering cape, histrionic and narcissistic performance, straight out of old-time pantomimes. Naturally, a great deal of rivalry, and a problem because Runt is unable to perform when anyone is watching. His whole focus is on Annie so no audience to see his victory. Of course, Runt winds, enabling Annie and Runt to go to the national championships, to the scorn of Fergus Fink and, again of course, his hostility and cheating. But the goal is to compete in London, Annie and Runt qualifying but the town rallying together to get enough money to pay the air fares in London accommodation.

With Matt Day and Jack Thompson providing pantomime villain action, the film is also something of a fairytale – especially a fairy godmother in the form of Deborah Mailman, a past champion, stepping in, with charm, to help Annie and Runt in their training.

By this stage all of us, non-dog-lovers included, are in for hope for Runt’s success and the downfall of Fergus Fink. No spoilers here – but it does not all turn out as we might have expected. The spoiler is, but really no spoiler at all, a very happy ending for everyone – and including rain!

An enjoyable film, from Western Australia, with characters who, in the old days, were called battlers as they tried to survive.

1. The title, the term, the underdog?
2. Western Australian setting, farms and drafts, the country town and life, atmosphere, homes, the sheep, homesteads, the dam, the dry river, drought atmosphere (and the final rains), dog trials, the transition to London, atmosphere, the competitiveness? The musical score?
3. The theme of the past, the Aussie battlers, making a living, exploitation by the wealthy, families keeping together?
4. The introduction to Runt, being chased around the town, stealing the sausages…? The meeting with Annie? Immediately bonding? Runt and his look, attractive, shy with people watching, dependent on Annie?
5. The family background, the father, the farmer, the inheritance from his grandfather and father, the inventions, rainmaking, his work with the sheep, the fences, but his interest in horticulture? The clash with Earl Robert Baron? Relationship with his wife, with Annie, with Max? His mother living with them? An engaging family? And the frequent jokes about the mother’s bad cooking and pies?
6. Max, his age, his derring-do, all the stunts, filming, the many followers on social media? Going up the tower, the grandfather’s rain making machine, failing – but the later success?
7. Grandmother, living at home, tough, supportive? The later meeting with Bernadette and their getting on?
8. The competition, the fair, the fairground and entertainment, again the jokes about the pies, the dogs, the introduction to Fergus Fink, pantomime character, pantomime villain, boastful, his dog, his put upon assistant? The competition? The hurdles for the dogs, the speed?
9. Annie, wanting to enter, with nobody watching, the time, winning? Fink’s reaction?
10. The visit with Bernadette, her past, with dogs, the advice, support, training?
11. The national trials, the prospect for London, Runt and the decision to have the eye shield, the reaction of Fink, his own display, the cheating? Stealing the shield?
12. Life in the town, the school, shops, the police, and everybody gathering to collect money to pay for the fares to London?
13. The trip to London, the poor accommodation, going to the competition, the crowds, the commentary, Runt, Fergus Fink? Runt and his being unwilling to run, the response of the crowd? The disappointment, and supporting Annie in front of the crowd, the response? Fink and his comeuppance?
14. The return home, the rain, the dam overflowing, the river filling, Earl Robert Baron and his comeuppance? The welcome home, Annie and the promotions, the father and his plans and growth?