JUST BETWEEN US
Australia, 2018, 106 minutes, Colour.
Deanna Ortuso, Joanne Nguyen, Calista Fooks, Kaarin Fairfax, Clayton Jacobson, Isobel Henry, Samantha E. Hill, Andy Rhodes.
Directed by Christopher Kay.
Although directed by a man, Christopher Kay, this film is a women’s film, written by Deanna Ortuso who plays the central role, also starring the producer, Joanne Nguyen as Trixie.
The film opens in Adelaide, travels through the countryside on its way to Sydney, with tourist pictures of Sydney and then a resolution along the coast.
Deanna Ortuso plays Hannah, shy and retiring, awkward at work, mistiming her responses, especially to the men at work and invitations to a party. Trixie, with Vietnamese background, has been adopted into the family. However, another sister, Bee, has died.
The film is also a ghost story, with Bee materialising, confronting Hannah and her being upset, challenging Hannah about her life and its lack of meaning. She urges Hannah to go on a quest, to a lighthouse and to come out of herself and make something of herself.
So, the film is a road film, Hannah and Trixie on their way, Trixie the more extroverted, urging Hannah on, and Bee continually reappearing and becoming part of the drama. There are various adventures along the way, the women’s football match, Hannah (continually being hit on the head by accident) breaking her teeth, getting them fixed by an attractive dentist, out on the town with him, spending the night with him while Trixie spends the night with one of the football players.
And so, on with the journey, the screenplay fills in the background of the two women and their family.
There is a change of tone when they arrive in Sydney, being ushered into a lavish hotel and into the best rooms only to find that there has been a mistake in their identities and, while they are abducted, and pressure put on them, it is erroneous – and the two women are able to effect their escape.
After a falling out with Trixie, a family argument, and with the urging of Bee, Deanna does find the lighthouse, finds something more in herself, reunites with Trixie – and, probably, is able to start something of a new life.
1. The title? Australian characters? Comedy? A film about women?
2. The opening in Adelaide, move into the countryside, the vistas of Sydney? The look of the film, the field, the musical score (and the karaoke sequence)?
3. Hannah’s story? The background of the family, Bee, Bee’s death? The family adopting Trixie? The effect?
4. Hannah at work, awkward, looking at the men, the possibility of a date or not, her refusing? Going home, herself, the reclusive life?
5. Bee as a ghost, her appearance, talking, the clash between the sisters, Bee wanting to help, urging Hannah on her journey, pilgrimage, to find herself?
6. The journey, in the car, the countryside, the variety of incidents, awkward moments? Hannah being prone to be hit on the head?
7. Trixie, the place in the family, her Asian background, adoption? The relationship with Hannah? Their travelling together?
8. Visiting the auntie and uncle, the presence of Meryl? The welcome, boisterous, going to the karaoke, Meryl’s showstopping performance?
9. The football match, the atmosphere, the play, the barracking, Hannah and the hit, her teeth, going to the dentist, going out with him, the karaoke, going home, the sexual relationship? Leaving? The comparison with Trixie, the footballer, their going out, spending the night together?
10. Continuing the journey, the quest, arrival in Sydney? Going to the hotel, the booking in Trixie’s name, the mistake? The concierge, his contacts? The lavish hotel room? The mistake, their being abducted, held?
11. The car, the escape, and leaving, the clash with Trixie? The return, the Lighthouse?
12. The conversation with Bee throughout the film? Bee present at the end, her bequest in Hannah getting her freedom and self-confidence?
13. A story about finding oneself and moving to the future?
