MovieChat Forums > West (2007) Discussion > where in sydney

where in sydney

posted 17 years ago by clueless_456
9 replies | jump to latest

where exactly in sydneys west is this sposed to be set? Im getting sick of all these movies coming out saying everyone who lives in the west are poor derros in housing commisions...

[–] stargirl_kf 16 years ago

this movie is filmed around the merrylands area. close to parramatta.
i also grew up in the western suburbs, very close to where this was filmed, and i also hate the stereotype, but unfortunately, this is the case for alot of youths. Sad as it is, these are areas where wealth is not considered 'the norm'.
I'm happy to say, i didnt grow up like the characters in this film, but i do know people that did.
I think 'West' is a brilliant film and portrays that side of western suburb living fantastically.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] spam-1064 16 years ago

The tunnel bashing scene is near Villawood shops, the tunnel goes under woodville

The car crash is somewhere around that area too as the street signs are bankstown city council signs. I think it was in Villawood east.

I think the station at the end with Nathans character is Leightonfield station, again just down the rd. It all appears to be the Villawood area. The under the bridge place they all hang out I'm not too sure. But I have a couple of ideas, I'm from the area so ill check it out and let you know if I work it out.

[–] gyvememail 16 years ago

I worked on the film:

The bashing was in the tunnel near Villawood shops...

The pub they hang out in is the Vic on the Park at Marrickville...

The railway bridge that Pete and Mick walk over is Villawood Railway Station...

The Canal they hang out in is in Merrylands, it runs under Stocklands Mall shopping centre...

A number of train stations were used, including Sefton and Lidcombe. The scene at the end with Nathan's character was shot out at the Zig Zag railway at Lithgow...

The car crash is also in the Villawood area...

The Chicken Shop is in Revesby...

The cemetery is Rookwood at Lidcombe...

Steve's apartment, Pete and Jerry's bedroom, Cheryl's house in the rain, the cubbyhouse interior and exterior, and the brothel were all shot at the same house in Caringbah. It was a place that was going to be knocked down, so the film crew could do whatever they liked to it...

The brothel waiting room and Steve's apartment are the same room, redressed...

[–] spam-1064 16 years ago

wow thanks for all the location detail!
Do you know why the canal was so hard to secure as a location?

[–] gyvememail 16 years ago

No worries...

Re the canal, not sure. I think there may have been some kind of problem with gaining access to it...

[–] Metdavo 16 years ago

oh cool parts where in the Shire!!

goooo caringbah!

[–] I_am_worst_at_what_I_do_best 15 years ago

It doesn't matter, it has that stereotypicallity of the Western suburbs that makes me sick to point it there and make it look like everyone does drugs and beats someone with a metal pole, screw with your best mates girlfriend, people jumping out infront of trains. etc. etc. The best place for it to set place would actually be nowhere near the Western Sydney. Believe me, I live there.

Go ahead... spoil yourself

[–] aGuiltySoul 14 years ago

Jumping in here to praise your signature line, movie buff. I encountered this film today on a blog that showed a video of critics discussing it.
http://film-rants.blogspot.com/2010/01/some-thoughts-about-australian- film.html

Here's one of the problems of creating films that are more than pretty pictures and explosions. You have to dig a bit and expose what is ultimately true. It doesn't have to be universally true, but it must be reflect something of us that is universal. It's HARD to watch your beloved complex community portrayed in a monotonic manner. But if it's done well, it is not stereotypcial as much as reflective of something basically true about being human.

I've read the criticism here about the lack of emotion and/or audience's attachment to the characters. I've only seen this brief clip but it has the same feel to it that I got from "A Guide to Recognizing your Saints". That ain't half bad.

"I'd never ask you to trust me. It's the cry of a guilty soul."