THE BUCKS' PARTY
Australia, 1977, 35 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Steve Jodrell.
The Bucks' Party is an award-winning short story. It received the Greater Union Award at the Sydney Film Festival in 1978 Produced in Western Australia, it is a very well-made film. It focuses on the Australian ritual of the male celebration prior to a wedding. It is considered a celebration of the last day of the groom's freedom and focuses on drinking, horseplay and sex. This film shows very vividly the bucks' party, its effect on the main group, on the groom who is wanting to go along with his mates, on the brother-in-law who serves as a weak observer and yet is critical of the tradition. An accident occurs which changes the mood and the under- standing of the party. A similar party is incorporated into John Duigan's Dimboola. Worth seeing for reflection on this so-called Australian custom.
1. The title, its language, significance? Australian custom? Symbol?
2. A Western Australian production, colour photography, the quarry location and its use, the special effects? The score?
3. The comment on Australian society, its male traditions, the contemporary version of mateship, the attitude towards male freedom prior to marriage, the place of mates compared with wives, the focus on drinking, beer, clowning around and practical jokes, the focus on sexuality?
4. The crudity of the bucks’ party, vulgarity and crassness? Why? Is it merely letting off steam, a celebration? An adolescent attitude, compensation?
5. The atmosphere of the opening: the cars arriving, the build-up of atmosphere, the quarry location, Kenny in a cage, Ron and his blessing, Mick's view of the proceedings and his advice to David that this party would be remembered more than the wedding itself? The place of mates compared with wives?
6. The presentation of the men themselves - as a group, as individuals? Ron as leader, arrogant, his influence, directing the proceedings? Mick and his detachment, his explanation of his aims in life to Dave? Dave and his being quiet, trying to help Ken, not drinking? Being there to protect Ken? His weak presence and going along with the group? The detachment of Mick and Dave from the proceedings? The hostility of the group towards them?
7. The various rituals: the putting of Ken in the cage, the slashing of beer all over him, urinating all over him, the coin in the glass of .beer, the drinking of the successive jugs of beer, parading in their briefs, the swimming and' the horseplay, the bringing of the stripper, participating in the dance, organising the equivalent of the rape for Kenny after not having him eat anything and drinking so much beer? The vomiting after the over-drinking?
8. The irony of Julie and her friend coming to the party, Julie's concern about Kenny? Coming with the stripper and hoping that all would be well? Their being bundled away from the party by the men?
9. Kenny as the average young man, the prospective groom, the English migrant? Becoming victim of the group - being in the cage and seeing things from the cage, the effect of the drink and the beer all over him, the urinating over him? Not being allowed to eat, being forced to drink the jugs of beer? The comic hat and glasses, his being held over the stripper for intercourse?
10. The morning after and the effect on all of them? The critical comment about Mick and Dave? The practical joke of tying Mick up and driving him around, David's intervention, the accident, the blaming and lack of blame, the ironies of their mateship when an accident happened?
11. The effect of having the collage of the wedding during the final credits, the detailed progress of the wedding reception, the presence of each of the characters in the photos, Ron and his attitude towards Julie? The prospects for a happy marriage? For a similar bucks' party for the other men?
12. How much insight into mateship, the Australian ethos, Australian males, sexuality? Satire, critique?
