THE MERGER
Australia, 2018, 94 minutes, Colour.
Damian Callinan, Kate Mulvaney, John Howard, Fayssal Bazzi, Rafferty Grierson, Josh Mc Conville, Nick Cody, Penny Cook, Angus Mc Laren, Sahil Saluja, Harry Tseng, Ben Knight..
Directed by Mark Grentell.
Beyond the city of Wagga Wagga, there is the town of Bodgy Creek, in decline, the mill having been closed by campaigns from greenies, the football club buildings to be demolished because of asbestos, the football club itself near collapse. And, not only that, a number of migrants are arriving in the town with some of the diehards of Bodgy Creek dead set against them and the threat of their taking jobs.
At one stage, when some of the migrants have been persuaded that they could play football, some of the locals are interested in where they come from and what their stories are. The new star, Sayeed, a Syrian, mentions that he comes from Aleppo – and one of his friends on the field, consults his phone app, tells him that Aleppo does not come up on Trip Advisor. This is one of the many good lines throughout the film that raise the social issues. And one of the bigoted townies proclaims that they ought learn English, and states that that’s all she aks.
Which means then that The Merger of the title is not just the merging of various football teams to make one which might succeed, but it is also The Australian current merger of asylum seekers and refugees finding a place in society.
In one sense, this film is preaching to the converted, those who want to welcome the newcomers to the land and help them find a place and a refuge. One is not too sure how those who share the opinions of the film’s diehards, those with a One Nationish type policies, would respond to the comic touches with which have political point.
The film is the work of Damien Callinan. It began as a theatre monologue with the actor speaking his lines. Now it has been amplified, taken outside, onto the football fields, throughout the town, homes and shops. While Damien Callinan does play the central role of the top greenie who led the campaign to close the mill, he also plays the former footballer who takes on the task of building up a new team and – we and they hope – to a premiership.
Central to the film is a young boy, a vigorous Rafferty Grierson, whose father has been killed in a motorbike accident. He is making his own documentary film, focusing on Damien with a touch of hero-worship and searching for a father-figure, along with his strong-minded mother, Kate Mulvaney. The dead father’s own father, literally nicknamed Bull, and played with force by John Howard, leads the reactionary group in the town.
We are introduced to quite a number of migrants, many with qualifications in their home country, trying to find jobs in the new country, trying to settle in, make friends – not always easy.
They are persuaded to play football and, gradually, they all combine with the locals to form a team – as well as contribute to business development in the town.
People mention such Australian comedies as The Castle and The Dish in connection with The Merger. In the same vein, the touch of spoof and satire, some engaging dialogue with Australian accent and tones, and an appeal, in football and political terms, for fair play.
1. An Australian comedy? In content, in style? The tradition of classic Australian comedies?
2. Elements of spoof, elements of satire? The message? 21st-century Australia, migrants, green issues, employment? The impact on those who agree with the sentiments? Any effect on those opposed?
3. Drawing on contemporary issues, of change, liking for change or not, small country towns and their decline, the closing of mills, the activities of Greens, issues of asbestos, issues of country sport, local media, papers and radio, the presence of migrants? The policies of such parties and independent politicians, One Nation?
4. The town, outside Walker, New South Wales, small, no mill, boarded-up, homes and streets, shops, SportsCenter?, sports fields, local markets? The spirit of the town? The musical score?
5. Damien Callinan, the monologue, transferring the plate to film, his starring, opening it up?
6. Neal, the introduction with the video, his making the documentary, cheeky, his age, the death of his father? His interesting following, hero-worship, father-figure? His relationship with his mother and his devotion to her? With his grandfather and grandmother? School, sport, watching his film and editing it? This continuing throughout the film?
7. Troy, his reputation, greenie, called town killers, past football price, making wine, selling it? His father’s house? Something of a hermit? Meeting Angie, her appeal to him, the clash with Ball? The meeting, his insurance and grand plan, the vote, the rejection of Campbell, supporting Troy, the football team? His recruiting everyone, help from Snapper, the discussion with so you need, the range of migrants in the town from Asia, Africa, Holland?
8. The initial awkwardness, practice, the locals joining the migrants, Carpet Burn and his hostility? The Dutchman and his aunt?
9. Angie, her relationship with her father-in-law, mother-in-law? Interested in Troy, attracted, memories of her husband, bonding with Neil? The spirit of the town?
10. The range of migrants, their range of stories, the men and women, the children, the pathos, especially of the stories from Syria? Presence in the town, jobs, joining with snapper in inventions and marketing, removing nail polish…? The place in the club, spirit, playing, the song, the practice and the actual matches?
11. Bull, going to hospital, the reactionary stances, the small group, coming with the posters, objecting to the migrants taking work? The irony that the Syrians moved next door to him, his hosing and pushing over the garden gnomes? The lift for seed, helping him, the sad news for sayyid about his brother’s death, his wife and daughter waiting for so many years for pieces, their arrival? Bull and his letter of protest to the local Parliamentary member, not posting it, change of heart? Supporting the team, the matches? The comedy with his wife, her patience and exasperation with him – at her trying the different clothes and answers?
12. The role of the radio, the newspapers, the spirit of the town? Troy, his personal life, relationship with Angie? His not putting snapper in the team? Later apologising to him, confronting Carpet Burn?
13. The final match, everybody participating, snapper and his keep? Winning?
14. An Australian comedy, an Australian message?
