TEN EMPTY

Australia, 2008, 96 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Frederiksen, Lucy Bell, Geoff Morrell, Jack Thompson, Brendan Cowell, Tom Budge.
Directed by Anthony Hayes.

Ten Empty is a short suburban film, focusing on a dysfunctional family in Adelaide.

Daniel Frederiksen plays a successful man who comes home to visit his father who has married his late wife's sister and their baby is due to be baptised. Also at home is his younger brother who is in depression after the death of their mother.

The film was made on location in Adelaide, utilising the streets, church and clubs in the area. This gives it an authentic feel. The film was directed by actor Anthony Hayes (AFI awards for Look Both Ways, Suburban Mayhem and many other nominations). It was co-written by actor-writer Brendan Cowell who appears in this film as a friend of the central character.

Geoff Morrell is strong as the father, an alcoholic, prone to tantrums as well as enthusiastic highs. Lucy Bell plays his wife. Tom Budge portrays the depressed brother. There is a cameo from Jack Thompson as the man who works behind the bar at the club.

The film has some domestic sequences, clashes at home, the ordinariness of the baptism ceremony and the picnic afterwards, some more intense scenes in the house.

While there are many depressing moments in the film, the film ends with some glimpses of hope and the possibility of some rebuilding.

1. An Australian drama, ordinary suburban life, the family?

2. The Adelaide settings, streets, homes, the church, hospital? Musical score?

3. The focus on Elliot, his being away for two years, the flight and the return, Diane collecting him at the airport, the new baby? His reaction? Meeting his father, the tension between the two? Brett and his hiding himself in his room? The mental breakdown? The dysfunctional family? Talk, the drinking, at the bar, the father and his behaviour, Diane waiting outside with the baby?

4. The baptism sequence, the church, the congregation, the priest and his attitude? The ceremony? Brett and his father’s criticism, his blow-up and knocking the table over, outside? Diane wanting to go home, the party and the people?

5. Elliot, his going home with Bernadette? The sexual encounter, his abrupt leaving – and phoning to send her some big and bright flowers?

6. The family visit to the grave, Ross and his grief at his wife’s death, Diane and her prayer, Brett and Elliot being present?

7. Ross, his character, his past, his drinking, the past with Diane while his wife was upstairs sick with mental troubles? Elliot confronting him?

8. Elliot and his decision to leave, the taxi, Diane asking him to spend ten more minutes, his going to Brett’s room, sitting with him, trying to rouse him? The decision to stay?

9. Brett, his mental condition, his mother, the dress, the suicide attempts, the car, rescued by Elliot, taken to hospital?

10. The hospital sequences, Elliot carrying his brother into the hospital, taking his father in to wait, Diane and the baby coming, the underplayed scene where Elliot explained to his father that Brett had been saved?

11. The focus on the friends, Shane and his work at the club, at the baptism? Bobby Thompson and his story, friendship?

12. The focus on Elliot, his saving his brother, staying with the family, some possibility of hope and rebuilding?