KICK
Australia, 1999, 92 minutes, Colour.
Russell Page, Rebecca Yates, Martin Henderson, Paul Mercurio, Radha Mitchell, George Spartels.
Directed by Linda Heyes.
Kick will remind many audiences of Billy Elliot. However, it was in production a year before Billy Elliot was made. It focuses on a young man, an 18-year-old in his final year of studies at a prestigious Sydney school (he coming from the working-class western suburbs). He has become the captain of the school, is seen initially as the football champion as well as a good scholar. He is likely to get a scholarship for law at the university. He has been befriended by his room-mate when many of the fellow students looked down on him and his background. However, he has overcome all difficulties.
But there is one thing that still tantalises him. His now dead mother had given him ballet lessons. When auditions are called for a performance of Romeo and Juliet, he auditions. His room-mate is ashamed of this and tries to keep it secret. There is a great deal in the screenplay of how staff, students and friends of the prestigious school would look down on any male involved in ballet. In fact, the film's screenplay rather labours this point.
He goes to the rehearsals, does not always concentrating on his work, alienates the lead dancer. She begins to understands him and supports him. His girlfriend, played by Radha Mitchell (Love and Other Catastrophes, Pitch Black) is angry at him. His father does not understand.
The film culminates in a football match and our hero being injured. His room-mate helps him to get to Sydney Opera House and he makes the performance just in time where, at the end, everybody is in admiration.
Russell Page is a brooding presence as the dancer. Rebecca Yates is his partner. George Spartels is his father and Paul Mercurio, who choreographed the dancing, is the dancing instructor. The film was directed by Linda Heyes. While entertaining, in the Billy Elliot vein, it makes its points perhaps too obviously for it to make a deep impression as Billy Elliot did.
1. A film about dance? In the Australian context? The sports player and his love for dance? The attitudes of his peers? Conflict about arts and sports? About manliness?
2. The title, its reference to football, its reference to ballet?
3. The Sydney settings, homes and schools, university? The dance classes? The opera house? The musical score, songs, music for the ballet?
4. The tradition of the kind of film, the Billy Elliot kind of story? The desire for dancing in the young man, the criticisms, parental expectations, criticism of peers? How well handled - and with insight?
5. The portrait of the seemingly perfect young man: Matt Grant and his being the school captain, his being able to go to Lawley Grammar, his relationship with his father, their lack of money? The rugby captain? The dux of the school? Every path of success open to him? His being admired, his girlfriend, everything seeming perfect?
6. Matt and his desire to dance, the way the film revealed this, his going to the classes, the auditions, the rehearsals, Romeo and Juliet, his getting the part of Romeo? His sneaking out to the auditions, his leaving school, others covering for him, his getting back late at night after the rehearsals, his growing tiredness? The dance and its affecting his sport, his studies, his relationships? His relationship with Tamara?
7. Tamara, her friends at school, their expectations, relationships? Tamara and her breaking off with Matt? His meeting Rebecca, partnering her at the dance, friendship, the clashes, his secrecy?
8. David Knight and Paul Mercurio as the dance instructor, his relationship with Matt, helping him to dance, success, making demands on him?
9. Jack Grant, his support of his son, his not understanding? The poor background? His ultimately being proud of his son?
10. The clash with the football match, the coach and his demands? The personal dilemma for Matt? Letting down the ballet group? Winning the match? The irony of the performance at the opera house? His trying to cover? Friends' advice, his having to face reality? The success of the dance? The acclaim from his peers, from the audience, his father? Success?
11. The important issues in Australian society of what it is to be male, sports-oriented? The attitude towards a young man who wanted to dance? Disbelief? These attitudes changing during the 1990s and into the 21st century?
