WALKING ON WATER
Australia, 2002, 90 minutes, Colour.
Vince Colosimo, Maria Theodorakis, Nathanial Dean, Frank Bishop, Judi Farr.
Directed by Tony Ayres.
Walking on Water is a story about death and survival. The film spends a great deal of time showing the death of Gavin (dying of AIDS-related illness). The family gathers, his dominant mother, his brother who has never left Whyalla and is unconsciously envious of his older brother, his wife and baby daughter. Gavin was an architect who shared a house with his business partner Anna and with Charlie. Charlie is living with Frank in the house. They are all present at Gavin's death, given extra morphine by a doctor. However, there are involuntary physical reactions and Charlie feels the need to put a bag over Gavin's head in order to stop his suffering.
The film show the aftermath of the death, the funeral and the family and the friends gathering. It also shows the tension between Charlie and Anna, who have been asked by Gavin to look after each other as they inherit his house. Simon goes out on the town but his relationship with Anna and his drug-taking and club-going bring about a physical collapse and he returns home. The group scatters the ashes on the water - perhaps they are now walking on water rather than just simply treading water.
1. The Impact of the film, illness, death? The aftermath of death on those who loved the person who died?
2. The Sydney settings, the house, the clubs, the beach and the coastline, the cliffs? The musical score?
3. The title - treading water, walking on water and surviving?
4. The opening with Gavin trying to come downstairs, collapsing, his illness and appearance, in bed and dying? His apologies? His family arriving, his love for his mother? His brother? His relationship with Anna and their work together, his relationship with Charlie? The doctor giving the injection, everybody waiting patiently for his dying, the holding of breath, his being pronounced dead, the involuntary reaction and Charlie's decision to put the bag over his head? His being loved by family and friends? His mother wanting to know whether he had been happy?
5. Anna, her friendship with Charlie and Gavin, working with Gavin, sharing the house? Her being a controller? Making the decisions about the funeral, knowing Gavin's wishes, ordering the flowers and her angrily taking out the Baby's Breath? The clashes with Margaret, Margaret wanting to make decisions? The clashes with Charlie? Her drinking too much? The preparation, the funeral, the aftermath and everybody arriving? The sexual relationship with Simon and her encouraging it? Charlie's reaction? Taking him to the club, the drugs, his collapsing and her apology? The collecting of the ashes, the ceremony at the cliff? Seeing Simon off? Her wanting a tidy house, the will (and the clash with Margaret about it), the fight with Charlie, the nurse arriving? Their parting - and the injunction to look after each other?
6. Charlie, relationship with Gavin, putting the bag over his head and his subsequent nightmares about it? His relationship with Frank? Not coping, the issue of flowers for the funeral? The gathering, his anger with the woman sobbing and ordering her out? His arguments with Frank, Frank leaving and his being upset, accusing Anna of knowing? Going to the club, the sex with his friends? The final fight with Anna? The farewell to Gavin on the cliff, his going back to the cliff, Anna urging him back? His new job, new life?
7. Margaret, her love for her son, arrival, dominant? Irritated by Anna? Wanting to make some decisions, the funeral, the arrangements, going to the motel - and there only being a shower? The return home? Kate and her relationship with Simon, her daughter? The dancing at the wake? The phone calls to Simon?
8. Simon, relationship with his brother, envy, Anna seeing him in the bathroom, the sexual encounter, his clubbing, collapse, weeping, the ashes? His going back, declarations of love for his wife?
9. Frank, relationship with Charlie, at the club, new friends, sex? His leaving in the early morning?
10. The doctor and his giving the injections, the nurse and her looking after Gavin, coming to the funeral, getting the gear back to the centre? The weeping nurse?
11. The insights into illness and death, people attending a dying person and the effect on them? The aftermath?
12. The Sydney gay scene, the photos and the beginning of the film with the group of friends, the clubs, relationships, permanent and transient? The film's observation of these scene and the characters within this context?
