PRAISE

Australia, 1998, 98 minutes, Colour.
Peter Fenton, Sacha Horler, Marta Düsseldorp, Ray Bull, Joel Edgerton, Yvette Duncan, Tex Perkins, Loene Carmen, Lynette Curran, Susan Prior.
Directed by John Curran.

Praise is based on a novel by Andrew Mc Gahan who also wrote the screenplay and won some awards.

The film, as a number of people noted, is in the vein of Leaving Las Vegas, focuses on two loners, addicts, who find some comfort in sharing their lives. They are played by Peter Fenton and Sacha Horler, in an award-winning performance. There is a very good supporting cast including Marta Dusseldorp, Joel Edgerton before his international career, and veterans Lynette Curran and Loene Carmen.

The settings are quite dingy as is the life of the two central characters. There is some background to their lives, their families, pasy relationships. But, it is an exploration of some form of confession, addictions and compulsions, trauma.

The film was directed by American John Curran who has made a number of interesting films including a version of Somerset Maugham’s The Painted Veil as well as the film about Edward Kennedy, Chappaquidick.

1. The title? Praise of others? Praise of self?

2. The novelist, adapting his work to the screen? Serious, humour?

3. Brisbane, the city, houses and institutions, authentic atmosphere, naturalism?

4. The musical score, the range of songs?

5. The voice-over, the form of confession, people with trauma, addictions, compulsions? Decency? Hurt?

6. The structure: the introduction, the house, the introduction of the themes, Gordon and his family background, his addictions? Cynthia and her family, mental condition, nymphomaniac, skin problems?

7. The graphic sequences of the relationship, sexuality, addictions?

8. An Australian story of the 1990s? The background of family? Affirmation of family or not? Education and lack of education? Work, the dole, opportunities? The issue of decency, moral framework? Possibilities for change? Behaviour, men and women, future or not?

9. Gordon and his world, his life, his inner space, sharing the room, the old men, his friends, their characters? The encounter with Cynthia? His drugs, asthma, sex? Drinking, smoking, heroin, the addictions? His self-pity? Work in the bottle factory? Stopping work?

10. Gordon and his relationship with Rachel, losing touch, her returning at the end?

11. The filthy apartment, those living there, Gordon and his friends?

12. Cynthia, leaving home, the long period of nymphomania, sexual behaviour, living with the skin problems? The encounter with Gordon, interactions with him, the sexual demands and his response? Her personality, her future?

13. The background of the institution, the staff, psychologists, nursing? Gordon having to give an account of himself, his behaviour, sexual behaviour?

14. A portrait of two disturbed people? A film with understanding? The possibilities for self-knowledge beyond self-pity? What future?