RUBEN GUTHRIE

Australia, 2015, 95 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Brammall, Alex Dimitriades, Abbey Lee, Harriet Dyer, Jeremy Sims, Brenton Thwaites, Robyn Nevin, Jack Thompson, Aaron Bertram.
Directed by Brendan Cowell.

Ruben Guthrie proudly and facetiously states his claim at his first AA Meeting, “My Name Is Ruben Guthrie and I’m in Advertising”. He also acknowledges his mother who has brought him long. Prior to this, we have seen him alcohol and drug-high, not the type that most of us would want to meet, even if we were in advertising. During a party at his lavish waterside home, he goes up onto the roof and jumps into his swimming pool – defiance, stupidity, death wish? Or all three?

When you come to think of it, Ruben Guthrie, when sober, is a more acceptable but not all that attractive, character.

What has happened is that Ruben, an acclaimed advertising personality, winner of international awards, hail-fellow-well-met, is challenged by his girlfriend of six years, Czech-born model, Zoya, Is so exasperated with his behaviour that, despite loving him, she tells him she is going back home and will return after a year and that he has to stay off the drink in the drugs for that period. Actually, he does.

The screenplay emphasises this by placing the particular number of days sober on the screen.

The screenplay was written by Brendan Cowell, based on his own drinking experiences (and the influence of his mother), and was based on a successful play for the theatre. Patrick Brammall (Upper Middle Bogan, Glitch) is Cowell’s alter ego and does quite a successful job of interpreting his character, making him quite interesting at times while not particularly likeable. Robyn Nevin plays his mother and Jack Thompson his easy-going father. Abbey Lee plays Zoya. And Alex Dimitriades is his gay best friend, 'If you can't drink one, then why not ten'.

At work, Ruben is pressurised by his boss, Jeremy Sims, to go back on the drink and to regain his mojo, to improve the quality of his campaigns. At the office is a kind of whizzkid, oblivious of what anybody else thinks about him, all cheeky hail-fellow-well-met much more then he realises – a very humorous cameo from rising star, Brenton Thwaites.

Ruben does gain some friends during the year, especially the big and burly Ken (Aaron Bertram) from the meetings who offers good advice and Virginia (Harriet Dyer), also from the group, but preoccupied with trends and what is politically correct, who entangles herself in Ruben’s emotions, building up to the encounter with at Zoya on her return.

As with so many Australian films, the reviewers have been fairly severe, more so than if it were the equivalent story from Britain or the United States – it is not meant to be a profound character analysis, the Brendan Cowell would hope that it does offer an image of a highflier, overconfident, not prone to have regard for others, challenged to do something different with his life, trying to go through some means to achieve this, but putting his foot in it, socially, emotionally, along the way.
(And Brendan Cowell got over his lapses to become a successful playwright and to continue his successful acting career.)

1. Australian story? Universal?

2. The Sydney settings, the harbour, homes, restaurants, offices, meeting places? The feel of Sydney? The musical score?

3. The structure of the film, the introduction, the naming of the number of days without alcohol?

4. The portrait of a highflier? The world of advertising, international awards, the boss, the members of the company, Chet and his modern cultural style? Acclamation, friends, hangers on? Celebrity? Celebrations, drinking, pool party, guests, Ruben going onto the roof, diving, into the pool, sinking, hitting his head, to be rescued?

5. His relationship with Zoya, her Czech background, young model, six years with Ruben, loving him, her work, but giving him the ultimatum, packing and leaving, the large photo of her in his room, his continually phoning her, her not answering? Away for the year?

6. Ruben and his decision, no drinks for a year? Going to the meeting, his comic remarks about being in advertising, the tracksuits of the members, his mother being present? The different members of the groups, calling him to account? Ken, large, his friendship, in the boat, talking frankly? His having a drink, celebrating the first meeting? Going off the drink, resisting all temptations? Damian, his return, the profligate manner, and Ruben not drinking?

7. At work, his boss, urging him on, knowing about the drinks, saying he wasn’t creative, the various contracts? The character of Chet, the satire on the geeky young man, off-hand, not self-conscious? Ruben and his deciding to leave?

8. Ruben and his mother, her relationship with his father, the separation, going to the restaurant, chatting with his father, the Korean girl, the relationship?

9. The various meetings, the characters, the effect on Ruben? Sharing, changing, getting stronger?

10. Virginia, at the meetings, the talk, earnest, politically correct, the relationship, the affair?

11. The days passing, time for the year to end looming?

12. Zoya, her sudden return, his collapse? Virginia, Zoya, the clashes?

13. The year over, at the restaurant, his mother urging him to drink, the father urging him to drink, the celebrations?

14. Damian, being overseas, best friend, the gay man, his manner, the men turning up for sex, liking to get high? Tempting Ruben?

15. The party, the drinking, the friends, Ruben on the roof, having to think? The pressures?

16. On the plane, his comfortable seat, talking, the flight attendant bringing the drink, his looking at it… And his future?