Just saw the film... my thoughts.
Hello everyone.
I came to know of this film because Flirting was on Entertainment Weekly's list of Top 50 High School Movies. When I checked up Flirting on IMDb, I realised it was a sequel to some movie... so I had to check that out first.
The minute I opened this film's IMDb page, I knew this was right up my alley. The poster, the tagline, the synopsis... all pointed to the fact that this belonged to that type of films I immensely enjoy. I am a sucker for "coming-of-age" dramas, especially if they are filled to the brim with bittersweet nostalgia and are in love with their period/setting. Adventureland comes to mind - I love that film to death. And somewhat strangely, I was also reminded of December Boys while looking up this film.
Anyway, I managed to get my hands on a copy of this film and when I started it, those opening frames - the beautiful shots of the Australian countryside, I knew I was in for something special.
But, to be honest, when I finished seeing the film... I didn't feel like I loved it. Heck, I'm pretty sure I didn't like it either. A big part of that must be because I didn't understand that much.
I'm from India and although I'm comfortable with American or British accents, the Aussie accents bamboozled me and many lines went right above my head. I just couldn't make out what the characters were saying to each other. As a result, quite a lot of the major plot points went right over my head. For example, I couldn't figure out what was the thing with "SEA", nor did I get the miscarriage issue and nor could I make out the last line (which, I have now realised, is brilliant).
I so wanted to love this film. It's just a shame I couldn't understand it.
Also, there is one part of the user review on the film's IMDb page that really gets me -->
Everyone in those days was outdoors all the time, not hunched over a computer. People actually looked at one another as they passed in the street, and were not peering into their Blackberrys or staring into space with a piece of metal stuck in their ear like a transplant. This film is an ode to real life, in a world which has forgotten what real life is.
This passage is haunting! I agree exactly with these lines and for a nostalgic romantic like myself, hearing such rose-tinted accounts of the good ol' days makes me weep I wasn't there. Can you suggest some similar films that would evoke similar feelings in me? I'm not just talking about Australian films... nostalgia and emotion transcends nationality.
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world share