Australian Cinema
Assignment two
Critical Review
By
Fleur Noonan
Peaches
Director : Craig Monahan
HUGO WEAVING Jacqueline McKenzie & Emma Lung
Genre: Drama
Cast:
Hugo Weaving:Alan
Jacqueline McKenzie: Jude
Emma Lung:Steph
Matthew Le Nevez: Brian
Sam Healy:Jass
Tyson Contor:Johnny
Catherine Lambert:Kath
Giang Le Hey:Thuy
Felicity Electricity:Sandy
Ling Yeow:Chen Poh
Caroline Mignon:Maria
Duncan Hemstock:Kenny Carter
Ed Rosser:Grandpa
Peter Michell:Dave
Adrian Shirley:Thommo
Principal Crew:
Directed by: Craig Monahan
Writing Credits:Sue Smith
Executive Producer:Judith McCann
Nicolas Stiliadias
Producers:Craig Monahan
Don Reynolds
Co-Producers:Margo McDonald
Roslyn Walker
Cinematography:Ernie Clark
Film Editing:Suresh Ayyar
Original music:David Hirschfelder
Casting:Gregory Apps
Production Design:Robert Harriot
Sound Department:Adrien Medhurst
Re-recording mixer:Peter D. Smith
Art Direction:Paula Smith
Set Decoration:Robert Webb
Costume Design:Gwendolyn Stukely
Jack Stukely
Makeup Department:Fiona Rees-Jones
Production Managers: Michael Gill
Jane Sullivan
Company Credits:
Production Companies :Peach Films Pty. Ltd.
Silverscreen Films
Distributors :
Cinemavault.com
Cinemavault Releasing International Inc.
Hopscotch Productions (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
Roadshow Entertainment Video (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
Other Companies
South Australian Film Corporationsound post-production
Spectrum Films Internationalpost-production facilities
Spectrum Films Pty. Ltd.post-production facilities
Release Dates:
Canada:30th August 2004 Montreal Film Festival Premiere
Hungary:24th September 2004 Boomerang Australian Film Festival
USA:17th October 2004Hollywood Film Festival
Australia:26thFebruary 2005 Adelaide Film Festival
France:11th May 0225Cannes Film Festival
Australia:9th June 2005General
Budget:
AUD 5,500,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend:
AUD 80,799 (Australia) (13 June2005)
Gross:
AUD 406,604 (Australia) (22 February2006)
AUD 208,236 (Australia) (21 June2005)
AUD 63,124 (Australia) (19 June2005)
AUD 145,112 (Australia) (15 June2005)
Filming Dates:24 March2003- May 2003 (6 weeks)
Copyright Holder:Hopscotch Films
Reviews for Peaches:
- Urban Cinefile (Australia)
- Yahoo Movies
- NineMSN
- Our Brisbane
- Channel 9 Sunday [Peter Thompson]
- City Search Sydney
- AtThe Movies
- Adelaide University Film Society
- Brisbane News
- Catholic Church in Australia
- Cinephilia
- Femail
- Producers' & Directors' Guild of Victoria
- Search SA
- The Sunday Times
- Sydney Anglicans
- Time Out
- The Movie Show
Runtime:Australia:109 min
Country:Australia
Language:English
Color:Color
Sound Mix:Dolby Digital
Certification:UK:15 / Australia:MA
Information found at:
The previous information for the film Peacheswas found at Internet Movie Data Base, which has links to all major and relevant information not held on the site itself. The above links are a fantastic source of information on the film and holds a very wide variety of reviews and cast and crew information. I would encourage anyone with an interest in the film to click on the links above and read over the information.
Critical Review
PLOT
Peaches is the coming-of-age story of Steph, played by Emma Lung. whose parents were killed in a car accident the night she was born. On her birthday Steph is giving her late mother’s diary which shows Steph a passion for life she long for. The diary reveals the multifaceted relationships of her parents and their best friends Alan, Hugo Weaving and Jude, Jacqueline McKenzie the insight into these relationships gives Steph the courage to step out of her shell and into her own journey of life.
SYNOPSIS
Peaches starts with the tragic car crash that kills Jass (Sam Healy) and Johnny (Tyson Contor) but leads to the birth of their ‘miracle’ baby Steph. Steph, the movie’s protagonist, is then adopted by her mother’s best friend Jude.
When Steph turns eighteen her grandfather gives her a diary that belonged to her mother, which was kept in the months leading up to her birth. This allows the film to shift in time taking the viewer into different eras; one the 80’s and the time of Jude and Jass’s youth and the present time, of Steph and her coming-of-age. Steph struggles as a young women with an overly protective mother, and in this case an ‘adopted’ mother whom she feels she can not share her thoughts.
This struggle is exaggerated by the fact that Steph as dyslexia which has led her to feel isolated from friends, leaving her lonely and longing for an escape. Being unable to read she turns to a young man Brian Taylor (Matthew Le Nevez) Alan’s half brother, whom she barely knows, to help her read the diary. Brian has been in jail for a violent crime and is seen as an outcast in the town and therefore an ally in her eyes.
Steph and Brian begin to uncover a history involving not only the friendship of Jass and Jude but also their respective lovers Johnny and Alan, and a world were having fun and being adventurous was the name of the game. Their nights were filled with dancing, drinking, the sharing of secrets, dreaming of escaping to Queensland and much more, often lead by a mischievous Jude. By day they all worked at the local peach canning factory where the dreams of leaving came to a halt when Alan was elected as the union representative. Leaving Jass and Johnny to venture into the fateful journey alone.
Steph goes to work at the factory were Alan is now the manager, and soon seeks him out in an attempt to bring some of the passion of the past into her own existence. Leading to a steamy affair between the two and ultimately leads to all the major characters of the film having to confront their past and come to terms with dreams lost. For Steph it is a journey that does give her the courage and determination to leave the town, yet it has also shows her that things are never quite as they seem.
My review of Peaches
I really enjoyed Peaches. Sue Smith (Brides of Christ) wrote a film I found to be believable and interesting, with multidimensional characters and plot that left me intrigued to discover where the film would take them. The characters were brought to life by a cast which made the experience one to remember. Hugo Weaving’s wonderful performance as the selfish, self-centered Alan left me feeling nothing but disdain for the character. Alan was a man who left Jude because he “was horny,” while she coped with the death of her best friend and the raising of a new born baby. He then goes on to sleep with the ‘baby’ eighteen years later; this made me a bit squeamish but goes to show the extent of his believability as a selfish man lost in a world he can not escape from. This aspect of the film was a little hard to deal with as it seemed so incestuous, yet at the same time it is what gave the film its grounding in its reality and a focal point for the outcome of the characters. Hugo’s performance was certainly a major contributor to the film’s strength, however the two other standout performances were Jacqueline McKenzie and Emma Lung as well as a strong supporting cast.
Jacqueline McKenzie was wonderful in her role as a sassy Jude turned mother hen, and it was this aspect I found grounding, as many women change for their children and showed her strength of character. Jacqueline shifted gracefully from young wild child to mature mother with acting prowess.
Emma Lung gave her all, from fragile to captivating, and although I feel she can only improve with future projects she was enchanting.
It is however the director’s fabulous eye for detail that took this film to new heights. Craig Monahan ( The Interview) use of light and landscape brought us right into the town of SwanReach and the dreary existence of the cannery .
Peaches is not perfect, it is a little slow to start and has gaps in the story line but is a journey that is rewarding in its outcome. I found it a refreshing Australian story with a focus on relationships and life, not on Australianness which has ghosted Australian cinema in the past. It is a story that can stand alone to a wider audience and this can been seen with its showing at festivals around the world and nominations at the Montreal World Film Festival. It is a shame that Australian audiences and indeed the AFI did not recognize this film for the special film it is.
CRITICAL RESPONSE:
Peaches received varied reviews (which can be read via the above links) most of which praised the actors, director, and a captivating score, but it appears to be the writing that has cause the most controversy. The film is a little slow to start as it has to fill the gaps of the past and bring them to the present, through the use of the diary, which is almost like the classical end of ‘it was all a dream’ for some reviewers (Producer and Directors Guild Vic). Nevertheless as previously stated the relationship between Steph and Alan is one that has pressed button because of the “anti-social” nature, yet this brings about mixed reviews. Peter Thompson Sunday Film review, notes that this is one of the reasons it is a stand out Australian film;
Peaches arguably has weaknesses, it also breaks fresh ground by exploring sexual intimacy in ways unusual for Australian film. And for those uncluttered by political agendas, that's cause for celebration. (Sunday, Film Review)
At the Movies with Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton is an interesting mix of opinions, with comments on the sexual nature of the film with David calling Margaret ‘narrow minded’ and she even agrees. (At the Movies).
Overall however the reviews were positive and like me many were left wondering how this film was left without major nominations and nodes for Australian Awards.
Where the film lies in Australian Cinema:
Peaches was not a big box office success nor was a film that has changed an shape of Australian cinema, it is however a film that is a very good Australian production from every aspect. When you combine the likes of Hugo Weaving and Jacqueline McKenzie with rich new talent and combine the experience of the production crew it is hard to lose. The following is a brief outline of the working history of three of these major players.
Director Craig Monahan:
Craig Monahan is best known for his critically acclaimed film The Interview(1998) which he wrote and directed. The Interview is also a drama with a mix of thriller and was nominated for a thirteen awards of which it won nine, globally and set Monahan and the top of the list for Australian Directors and writers.(Craig Monahan. Credits)
Writer Sue Smith:
Sue Smith is an accomplished Australian Television writer, her credits include the mini series The Brides of Christ(1991) and MyBrother Jack (2001) and her latest TV series on SBS, RAN : Remote Area Nurse (2006) all of which have been critically acclaimed. (Sue Smith. Credits) . Peaches is her first feature film but her niche is certainly in drama as has been show through her TV work which split over well to the big screen.
Original music David Hirschfelder:
David Hirschfelder provides a soothing score as a back drop for Peaches and has worked extensively from the Truman Show (1998) to Craig Monahan’s The Interview (1998) and continues to shine as a major compose in the film industry.(David Hirschfelder. Credits)
The three above artist combined to bring their own unique aspect of drama to this film. Monahan with his alluring visual aspects of society and culture. Smith with a melodramatic screenplay of family, change, and a roller coaster ride of emotions (Film Genres. P432), and Hirschfelder guides you through the journey with a magical score.
Peaches is an Australian film but not solely and Australian story taking it out of the niche of Australianness films of the past. It is truly a treasure chest of Australian talent and that is a step in the right direction for the industry.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
At the Movies.
Craig Monahan. Credits.
David Hirschfelder. Credits.
Gerald Mast, Marshall Cohen, & Leo Braudy 1992, 'Film genres', Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, fourth edition, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford: 429-434.
Internet Movie Data Base.
Producer and Directors Guild Victoria.
Sue Smith. Credits.
Sunday Film Review.
Filmography
Peaches. (dir) Craig Monahan . Film Finance Corporation Australia. Hopscotch Films. 2005.
The Interview. (dir) Craig Monahan. Point Blank Pictures. 1998.
Photos:Internet Movie Data Base.