PALM BEACH
Australia, 2019, 100 minutes, Colour.
Bryan Brown, Sam Neill, Greta Scacchi, Richard E. Grant, Heather Mitchell, Jacqueline Mc Kenzie, Claire van der Boom, Aaron Jeffrey, Matilda Brown, Charlie Vickers, Frances Berry.
Directed by Rachel Ward.
At the end of the preview screening of this film, a fellow-reviewer remarked that the screenplay and story were very similar to many French films about friends and relationships. But, the French always made their films with some style, even delicacy. But, the point here and now about Palm Beach is that it is Australian and, therefore, French style and delicacy is not to the point! This is a narrative, Aussie style – and it is.
This is the kind of film, easy in its manner even when tensions arise and issues need to be sorted, even with physical fights, that plays well to an older audience. In fact, most of the characters in the film are in their 60s, the men in their late 60s. The audience appeal could be that many will identify with the characters and their situations – or, might prefer to admit that they know many, even many friends, with whom the film characters resonate.
Palm Beach also has the advantage of a very strong ensemble cast, some of the icons from Australian films, icons who are recognised overseas as well.
At the centre is Bryan Brown, more than 40 years after Newsfront! For over four decades, Bryan Brown has been the embodiment of the Aussie male, accent and ironic humour and all. With him is New Zealander Sam Neill (icon of so many Australian and international films), more than 40 years after he made the New Zealand film, Sleeping Dogs. And, with the female cast, there is a very strong performance from Greta Scacchi, from Heather Mitchell and, as another wife, Jacqueline Mc Kenzie, more than 25 years since she appeared in Romper Stomper.
And, some of the younger generation have strong screen presences as well, Claire van der Boom (who played the real-life Sister Berenice Twohey in Sisters of War), New Zealander Aaron Jeffrey (who played Chopper Read in the Underbelly series), and Matilda Brown who is the daughter of Bryan Brown and the director of this film and cowriter, Rachel Ward.
So, plenty to commend with the cast, the director – and the writing of celebrated playwright Joanna Murray Smith who collaborated with the screenplay.
The film opens playfully, guests arriving to celebrate a birthday, friends for many decades, in the affluent home at Sydney’s beautiful Palm Beach (no surprise that New South Wales tourism had a hand), the house attractive, the water in its many moods most attractive.
As expected, the film opens cheerfully, everybody arriving, renewing friendships, meals, chat, relaxing, surfing, all that one might expect. But, of course, there is the anticipation that there will be problems, some tangled memories of the past, some complexities in relationships, some stresses in marriages, with advancing age, with illness, with career clashes…
And, that is where the film takes us, arousing our interest, our curiosity, our apprehensiveness, our hopes – which makes Palm Beach an entertainment, touches of the comic and the tragic, enjoyably accessible rather than too demanding.
1. An Australian story and treatment? Universal? The Australian style, accent, humour?
2. The title, location photography, the affluent house, the hill, the beach, the water and the waves, the different vistas of the water, shops and roads? An authentic feel?
3. The range of the score, the range of songs, from the period of the characters? Commenting on the action?
4. A birthday occasion, family gathering, friends, from the UK, from New Zealand?
5. The credits, the greetings from each of the members of the cast? The cast, Australian icons? An ensemble group? The director, her husband and daughter in the cast?
6. The collage of the different arrivals, the introduction to the characters, delight in Palm Beach? Frank, his day? Lottie as his devoted wife, his son and daughter, Lottie and her cooking, the preparations for the day?
7. The days together, the gathering, the meals, relaxing, talking, surfing, sharing memories, surfacing tensions, old friends, spouses, the younger generation, bonding?
8. Bryan Brown as Frank, his age, the company, his being a manager, the music, performances, posters, musical success with Fearless, the 70s? His selling the company, feeling dead ever since, the accumulation of money, able to spend it, his sister and the group, her death, Holly as her daughter? His relationship with his wife, loving Ella, critical of Danny? Lottie and her illness, the issue of the DNA and Danny’s paternity, Frank and his range of moods, rivalling Billy with the jogging, taking the pills, building the pizza oven, the bonding of the men, smashing the chimney tops, the birthday party, Ella and her speech, the fireworks, Danny on the boat, with Caitlin, the accident, his going to hospital, his parents at his bedside, Frank being sorry, the discussion about the DA issues and paternity, Ella with the solution? Frank and his relationship with each of the characters?
9. Leo, his wife, journalistic background, the bonds in the past, his manner, the situation with his wife, marrying her, single mother with daughter? His fondness for Danny, his continued questions about the paternity, the night with Lottie? Wanting to surface the issue, Lottie and her reactions? The birthday party, the accident, discovering the truth, the DNA information? His expressing his love for his wife and daughter? Their characters and presence at the party?
10. Billy and Eva, Eva the actress, signing the autographs, her past success, their bickering, his being childish, the jingle and his award, stealing the past song hit? Frank upset, Eva ousting Billy, staying on the couch? Frank forgiving him, the rivalry in the jogging? His criticisms of the pizza oven, the royal helping? Either, wanting to leave, Billy pleading with her at the taxi, her staying? Her auditioning (to be Nicole’s mother!)?
11. Holly, her mother, presence of the party, the music, her friendship with Doug, bringing him to the party, his drinking the beer, the sexual encounters and Eva’s sleeplessness? Doug and his proposal, Holly refusing, the message that she could not bear children? His return, the reconciliation?
12. Danny, following his father’s dreams rather than his own, his lack of success, Frank critical of him, Leo supporting him? The boat, the accident, in hospital, the reconciliation with his father?
13. The range of crisis, the different ways of handling them, anxieties, Ella overhearing the truth? The DNA solution?
14. Possibilities for reconciliation and facing the truth, love and friendship?
