WEST OF SUNSHINE

Australia, 2017, 78 minutes, Colour.
Damien Hill, Ty Perham, Arthur Angel, Kat Stewart, Tony Nikolakopoulos, Kaarin Fairfax.
Directed by Jason Raftopoulos.

Here is a small budget piece of Australiana – or, more particularly, Victoriana and, even more particularly, of Melbourne’s western suburbs. (Those not familiar with Melbourne will not notice but, in fact, most of the action takes place east of Sunshine.)

The film also has a brief running time. It covers the day in the life of Jimmy, a rather dismal and disillusioning day at times, some crises points in his life. He is played convincingly by Damian Hill and he plays against his stepson in real life, his son in the film, Ty Perham.

The film opens with Jimmy waking up, getting ready to go to work, going to his wife’s house to pick up his son, Alex, trying to get another friend to mind the sun for the day but he refuses. He is accompanied to work by his good friend, Steve. They work at a delivery centre and, they arrive late for work, Jimmy initially unwilling to use his own car, pride and joy inherited from his father, but he finally agrees and begins his rounds.

This gives the director the opportunity to drive around Melbourne, showing the variety of the suburbs, the skyline of the inner city, the different views of streets, homes, warehouses, cafes, pubs… In many ways, the film offers an arresting portrait of Melbourne.

Jimmy really hasn’t made much of his life. He says he loves his wife. He loves his son but there are continued tensions between them as the day goes on, Jimmy forced to have Alex in the car with him, trying to get him to stay in the car but Alex wandering in and, despite warnings, inevitably touching things. He is bored, plays games on his father’s phone, gets hungry. And, inevitably, he gets into real trouble when his father does some drug-delivering to get extra cash.

Cash and repayment are at the centre of the plot. Jimmy owes a great deal but has a certainty at the races with the possibility of a big win, encouraging Steve to go along with him. It partly works out – and it partly doesn’t which leads to more tensions, Jimmy at first willing to sell his car, finally turning up to the loan shark, and his thugs, who is owed the money.

So, a slice of life from the western suburbs of Melbourne. It is the first feature film by Jason Raftopolous who also wrote the screenplay. It won him and award at the Barcelona International Film Festival and was screened in 2017 at the Venice Film Festival.

1. The day in the life of…? Jimmy? For Alex?

2. The importance of the location photography, Melbourne, authentic look and feel, the detail, the streets, pubs, cafes, warehouses, homes? The musical score?

3. Ordinary life, hard life, family relationships, father-son tensions, issues of money and debt? Recovering money, gambling, favours?

4. The portrait of Jimmy, his age, his look, the tattoos, his past, his pride in his car, from his father? The hard life, jobs, going to visit his wife, his love for her, having Alex for the day, Alex not wanting to go, Jimmy understanding him, irritated with him, coping? The risk of losing Alex? Going to the woman, her affection for Jimmy, listening to his talk, Jimmy not wanting anything more? His son refusing to stay? His going the money, the loan shark and the phone calls? Picking up Steve, his friendship, the lift, arriving late for work, the boss, the deliveries and the range of destinations and pickups? Steve, making the bet, winning the money? Jimmy winning, the promise to Alex, his betting again, losing? Asking Steve for a loan, Steve refusing, the risk of losing friendship?

5. Going to see Mel, the past links, the discussions, her children, Alex playing with them? The drug deliveries, the range of customers, furtive deliveries, the woman with the old man and the need for drugs? Alex being bored, food, playing with the drugs? Jimmy’s exasperation? The loss of money? Mel giving him $500? The decision to sell the car, the discussions with the dealer, the deal? Driving away? Facing up to the loan shark, his being bashed, giving him the car? Taking Alex home – and saving his relationship with Alex?

6. The portrait of Alex, his age, living with his mother, school holidays, her having to go to work? Not wanting to stay with the friend? In the car, tensions with his father, his boredom, playing games with the phone, arguing with his father, being demanding? Reacting to his father? Eating, the pub, winning the money, his father’s promise? Being bored? Playing with Mel’s kids? The drugs, his inquisitiveness, Jimmy’s reaction, losing the drugs? His being delivered home, saying that it was a good day?

7. The sketch of the mother, love for her son, relationship with Jimmy, going to work? Alex returning home? The friend, listening to Jimmy, the kiss, Jimmy’s refusal? Mel, the
past, her work, the drugs and the delivery, her reaction to the loss of the drugs, the money?

8. The loan shark, his thugs, the phone calls, wanting the money, taking the car?

9. Audience interest, sympathy?