STRANGERLAND

This film tells the story of the Parker family, Matthew (Joseph Fiennes) runs a pharmacy and mother Catherine (Nicole Kidman) stays at home. Living in the small town of Nathgari, the family seems to be dealing with issues along with no desire to even want to be there.

Lily (Maddison Brown) is an out of hand teenager who defies her parents at every turn, treating everyone around her badly. Dealing with it the best they can, there is also Tommy (Nicholas Hamilton) who feels the tension.

Catherine discovers both kids have been delinquent from school and when ready to face them about it realize they are missing. Calling and looking everywhere, the couple prepares to call the police as a deadly dust storm moves in. Det. David Rae (Hugo Weaving) begins an investigation as the family secrets start to spill out.

Matthew lives in denial and Catherine reverts to the sexual behavior of a teenager. When Tommy is found in the desert alone, the mystery of Lily deepens.

Kidman plays Catherine, a mother who clearly doesn’t know how to deal with her daughter. Discovering Lily’s behaviors that forces the family to Nathgari in the first place have continued right under their roof. Keeping secrets from her husband, Catherine finds danger in a relationship with Det. Rae. Kidman lets it all go in this role, literally and physically. Well done.

Fiennes as Matthew is a husband at the end of his rope with the behaviors in the family. Angry at himself and angry at Lily he must come to terms with the damage to his marriage. Watching his wife fall to pieces, Fiennes becomes a man possessed. What is interesting is that he does share a gentle side but it’s so wrapped up in fear, just a superb job.

Brown who plays Lily is a young woman clearly out of hand. Her mouth and attitude push everyone around her to the point of fracture. She has no care or concern about her actions or their consequences. Hamilton as Tommy is a young man caught up in it all. I felt so very bad for him!

Weaving as Det. Rae is always a joy to watch. There is a presence about this actor, whether playing a good guy or bad, that captivates a viewer and his performance STRANGERLAND proves that.

Other cast include: Megan Alston as Sally McPherson, Meyne Wyatt as Burtie, Martin Walla s Neil McPherson, Lisa Flanagan as Coreen, and Benedict Hardie as Nick.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give STRANGERLAND three and a half tubs of popcorn out of five. I have to say the cinematography lends to the story as the land draws the biggest fear for everyone. With an underlying aboriginal mythology added to the plot it adds a mystical quality to it all.

This truly is a story about a family hiding every bit of their lives from outsider but even more so from one another. Believing they are protecting they are in fact damaging an already damaged situation. The parents have taught their children in the sense that the underlying blame for Lily rests with Catherine and Tommy withdraws just as his father Matthew does.

They dynamics of this film are so intertwined which means after watching this film there are conversations to be had, and I did. The different interpretations are what make films such as STRANGERLAND a joy to watch.

In the end – to find the truth they must lose themselves!

Q