NIRVANA STREET MURDER

Australia, 1991, 75 minutes, Colour.
Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Little, Mary Coustas, Sheila Florance.
Directed by Aleksi Vellis.

Nirvana Street Murder is the first feature by Melbourne director Aleksi Vellis. Vellis wrote and edited the film as well. He made a number of short films, music videos and corporate video films.

The film is a blend of the comic and the serious - there are elements of spoof (with explicit reference to Homicide). However, the characters are so well-written and acted that the serious side of the film tends to overwhelm the spoof. This means sometimes an uneasy blend between the corny spoof elements (a tough young teenager as the standover man produced by the members of a Greek gang - and exercising a few karate chops for victory) and the blackmail by a young girl who wants to buy a ticket for a concert... However, there are some serious elements, including a violent death.

Ben Mendelssohn, seen to advantage in The Year My Voice Broke, Return Home, The Big Steal, gives an excellent performance as the normal brother, Luke. Comic Mark Little (The Clinic, Wills and Burke) is maniacal as the unbalanced brother. Mary Coustas (Acropolis Now, Mull) is the Greek girlfriend.

The film shows us life in the inner city suburbs of Melbourne - from abattoir, to slum flats, to drug dealing and then moves to a wealthy mansion as well as to a Greek household. The clash between English-speaking Australians and Greek migrants is brought to the fore.

An interesting, uneasy blend of the comic and the serious - but well photographed and acted.

1. Small-budget feature? Impact?

2. The blend of the serious and the comic? The spoof?

3. The title, audience expectations, the bloodstained credits, the tone, the ironies?

4. The reference to Homicide and police television stories? The world of drug-making and dealing? Police surveillance? Youth? Drifters? Unmarried mothers and pregnancy? The counter-culture aspects of the film? The contrast with Molly in her wealthy mansion?

5. The initial tone, the sheep at the abattoir, being butchered, being carved up? Images of blood? Luke and his work at the abattoir? Introduced in this context?

6. Ben Mendelssohn as Luke, the focus of the film? Serious young man, comic touches? At work, going into the pit? At home, Boady and his trying to make speed, Luke's anger with his brother, the desperate fight? Under surveillance? The drugs, Boady's sleepwalking? The police and Luke's run, being caught, the brutal touch, bail? His friendship with Molly, going to see her, helping her, taking her for her chair-ride? Her giving him the bail? No home to go to, the four of them moving in with Molly? Luke's style, not playing cards? Desperate situations, Boady, his sleepwalking, slashing the bed, almost killing Molly? His clash with his brother yet looking after him? His brother's death - did Luke kill him or not? Luke's relationship with Helen, the phone call from the abattoir, going to the school to talk with her, the sexual encounters, the blackmail from the young cousin, desperate to get to the meeting with her, standover tactics? The Greek cousin and his gang? The fights - and their silly aspects, standover tactics? Boady's death and its effect on him? Getting Smeg's encyclopaedias after seeing him off? Dressing up, going to Helen's home, ingratiating himself with her father? The brother protecting them from the father? With Molly at the Shrine of Remembrance (and Molly's memories)? Meeting Helen, going off for a future? The footnote about his arrest, in remand at Pentridge, maintaining his innocence?

7. The contrast with Boady and his weakness, his bond with Luke, trying to please Luke? Penny and her pregnancy, his love for her? Robbing the pharmacy, being photographed, his reaction to the mock-up drawing in the paper? Not going to work? Trying to make the speed, the fight with Luke? The police chase, escaping in the car with Penny? Going to Molly's, playing cards with her - and the humour of the strip poker? Stopping Penny robbing Molly? The fights with the Greeks, his being bashed? Going to the abattoir, being sacked, pulling the gun on the boss? Penny's leaving, going to find her, seeing her in the back of the car and his violent reaction? The sleepwalking sequence at home, sleepwalking at Molly's, the knife, the water bed, almost killing Molly? His death?

8. Penny and her pregnancy, lifestyle, relationship with Boady, the making of the speed, needing the money, care for the child? Starting the car, evading the police? Antagonism towards Molly, wanting to rob her? Leaving, flirting with the Greek in the car? The violence of Boady, the miscarriage, on the television monitor?

9. Helen, her Greek background, the family and its severity? Her cousin spying, taking photos, the blackmail? The phone calls to Luke, sexual encounters? Her teaching? Discussions about marriage? At home, her father wanting her to date Spiro? The final visit by Luke, her decision to leave with him? The prejudices of Greek families in Melbourne? The effect on the next generation?

10. Molly, old and rich, Irish, blarney? Her walks with Luke and enjoying them? Giving him the money, posting his bail? Boady and Penny and Smeg all moving in? Her welcoming them, wanting the card games, making Boady strip? The fright at Boady's attack, surviving, wishing Luke and Helen well? Her memories at the Shrine of remembrance?

11. Smeg, the making of the drugs, lifestyle, the arrest, selling encyclopaedias - and people rejecting him, on the drugs, with the Greeks, leaving?

12. The Greek gang, the young girl and her blackmail, wanting to buy a concert ticket? Hector and his toughs, the clashes, going to the house, Luke and Boady away, following them, the kidnapping? The car crash? The sexual flirting? The young man slashing his leg with the knife in the crash? Hector bringing on the tough kid to bash Boady? The send-up of street gangs?

13. Helen's family, the Greek language, the bonds of family, the father's demand for respect, the women watching television and Homicide? The brother and his cheekiness?

14. The film's comment on prejudice, nationality and ethnic issues?

15. The abattoir, the boss and his toughness? The hard work? Being threatened with the gun?

16. Ordinary people - the touch of realism, the humane drawing of the characters? Blending with the more stylised spoof and use of conventions of thrillers?