WHAT WILL BECOME OF US

Australia, 2019, 75 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Steven Cantor.

This is a portrait of the self-made millionaire/billionaire, Frank Lowy. He collaborated with the filmmakers, allowing them into his home and into his life, and suing all their questions.

To that extent, this film is more like a eulogy of Frank Lowy rather than an analysis of 20th century capitalism and business practices.

The film was able to trace Lowy’s origins in Czechoslovakia, modern-day Slovakia, his bond with his parents, especially his father, who disappeared one day when they had moved to Budapest. It was only later, in a chance encounter that Peter Lowy met someone of the same name, no relation, in Palm Springs who explained what had happened to his grandfather. This is a great consolation for Frank Lowy himself.

Initially, members of the family went to Israel, on the refugee boats that went to Cyprus, eventually going to Israel itself. However, some other members of the family migrated to Australia. So did he. In Australia, he married Shirley, had three boys who all worked in his company, a marriage of 65 years and more to Shirley who, sadly, as is seen throughout the film, now suffers from Alzheimer’s.

While the film is set in 2017, with Lowy at 87, making the decision to sell his company and, perhaps, retire, plus some more recent speeches and social events, these are interspersed throughout the narrative about his life.

Beginning at Blacktown with a delicatessen and then a cafe, he went into partnership, started a company in 1960 and, it would seem, there was no turning back. Capitalising on American know-how in terms of malls, Lowy is best known for his establishment of a range of Westfield malls in Australia, and in the United Kingdom. At the time of the making of the film, he is going into partnership with a European company which means they will take over the Westfield company.

His main regret, he says, is not spending more time with his sons – however, their interviews are very favourable towards their father and they all work in executive capacities in his company.

Lowy is also well known for his support of football, soccer, very much involved in the attempt for Australia to host the World Cup in 2022.

The film is something of a homage to Lowy himself.