The Movie: The future of Australian film is here and it is in ultra-low budget filmmaking! Now that I have gotten my grand opening statement out of the way we can proceed. Kriv Stenders’ Blacktown takes place in the western Sydney suburb that lends the film its title. The suburb gained its official name from the colloquial term for it as it began as a settlement for Aboriginal education. The story is about two people and the love they find in one another. While trying to escape her “blind date from hell” (a very memorable cameo by Kenny director Clayton Jacobson) Nikki (NIKKI OWEN) meets the charming and inimitable Tony (TONY RYAN). After some persistent coaxing from Tony, Nikki finally allows herself the luxury of courtship and the pair begin seeing one another. However, the relationship is not an easy one as Nikki’s emotional scaring is compounded by the recurring figure of her ex-“boyfriend” (KRIV STENDERS).
This film is nothing short of brilliant. The raw aesthetic and largely improvised performances work to create a genuine and incredibly believable tale that really draws you in. The performance of non-actor Tony Ryan is one of the best in Australian film and Nikki Owen is greatly believable as a sad woman trying to find happiness, but hesitant to seize an opportunity to discover it.
Shot in hand-held mini-DV and using a narrative style that combines documentary with fiction (reminiscent of such films as Gummo, and even Freaks), Blacktown may jar some of the more sheltered viewers. Certainly, Stenders’ is not the only person making mini-DV features, nor is he the first to attempt this fusion of real-life characters with a contrived plot, but he is among the most successful. I’m trying to look for something negative to say about this film so my review won’t appear too one-sided, but there is just so much I love about this movie. Blacktown is a triumph that deserves to be seen and I wait with baited breathe for Kriv Stenders’ latest ultra-low budget film Boxing Day to find a DVD release (I missed it at the recent Adelaide Film Festival).
The DVD: In addition to seven deleted scenes of varying quality, the DVD boasts an extremely enlightening commentary by the film’s director (Kriv Stenders), as well as Stenders fifty-minute documentary Motherland and twelve-minute short Two/Out (both with commentaries). I must admit I approached the commentaries with some concern, having the personal feeling that there are too many DVDs with commentaries purely for the sake of it, but Stenders does a good job explaining the making of his film in an entertaining and personable manner (even the commentaries on the bonus films are worth it if you have the time). Not just a great package for its entertainment value, this is a DVD every wannabe Australian filmmaker should get his/her hands on. The film, coupled with Stenders’ candid commentary, offers an alternative approach to feature filmmaking and great inspiration for anyone wishing to make a film without getting bogged in the quagmire of applying for government funding.
The Price/ Availability: Currently the film retails at $29.95 and has just been released (14th march) so it shouldn’t be too hard to find. If that doesn’t suit you, I imagine this is one that should be turning up in most good video rental stores.
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