SUBDIVISION

Australia, 2010, 90 minutes, Colour.
Gary Sweet, Bruce Spence, Steve Bisley, Kris Mc Quade.
Directed by Sue Brooks.

Subdivision is a particularly Queensland film. It was filmed on location in Hervey Bay. It captures the atmosphere of the small Queensland town on the coast.

The issues are topical, the focus on workers, especially builders and the difficult times in changing circumstances in development in country towns. Gary Sweet portrays the traditional worker, reliable – but following old patterns. Steve Bisley is the finance agent, running the risk of bankruptcy and trying to deal with his clients. The film shows the background of family life in the area, traditions, tensions. The film also has a lot of local talk about Queenslanders – and suspicions of Victorians. The emphasis is on football, state spirit – as well as focusing on the challenges to that state at the beginning of the 21st century.

The film was directed by Sue Brooks, a project that she took on rather than a personal project like The Road to Nhill and her Japanese Story.

1. A Queensland story, the different focuses of Queensland life, Hervey Bay, parochial? How relevant the film for all Australia?

2. The Hervey Bay locations, the coast, the town, homes, buildings? The musical score?

3. The Queensland interest, culture, the buildings, the climate, football, regard for other states?

4. The title, the building industry, symbolic?

5. The financial issues of the late 20th century, the beginning of the 21st century? Subdivisions, building, industries, the flow-on effect? Restructuring, bankruptcy? The community and mateship?

6. Digger, his name, Gary Sweet’s style, the hard man, old school, at home, his relationship with his wife, demands on his men, relationship with his son, hiring and firing? His twenty years’ coaching of the football team? Hard decisions, dismissals? The Aussie battler, 21st century style?

7. The contrast with his son, Jack’s age, experience, at work, not as strict as his father? His friendship with Solly and the other men? Building, walking off? His place in the football team? His seeing Tiff, following her, flirting? Going into her office, his interview, hard style, his demonstrations, lack of finesse? Copying the papers, using Tiff’s connections? The phone calls and the deals? At home, his mother, the clash with his father? Failure? Harry’s situation and bankruptcy? Tiff and her disillusionment, not helping him?

8. Solly as a character, Polynesian background, his relationship with the young girl, her pregnancy (and her questioning who the father was)? At the birth? Supporting Jack, going with him?

9. Harry, his company, customers, the houses he built, his working with Digger? Jack and the confrontation? Harry at the football, his part-coaching? The issue of refinancing, the town meeting, Harry and his speeches, and the irony of his house and boat in his wife’s name?

10. Tiffany, from Victoria, her skill at work, her methods, Jack and his poor presentation? The note and the photos? Falling in love with Jack? Her reaction to his betrayal? Finally helping him?

11. Digger, his opting out, not having any answers, sitting on the roof? His wife and his disappointment in her?

12. The workers, the man who would lose his home, desperation?

13. The people at the meeting, the reactions, the speeches, the language? Jack, his plan, supported by Tiffany and Solly? Digger supporting his son?

14. The resolution, people saving jobs and their finances? But the need to change?