THE COMBINATION: REDEMPTION
Australia, 2019, 104 minutes, Colour.
George Basha, Neveen Hannah, Maha Wilson, Andre de Vanny, Rahel Ramon, Abbey Aziz, Troy Honeysett, Taylor Wiese, Simon Elrahi, Tony Ryan, Brendan Donoghue.
Directed by David Field.
An original film, written by George Basher, The Combination, was released in 2009. It was directed by actor David Field. While this film was released in 2019, it is set six years after the original film. Many of the characters are much the same, and the themes are very much the same.
Both films are set in the western suburbs of Sydney, multiracial, Asians as well as migrant families from the Middle East, especially Lebanon, a mixture of Muslims and Christians. And, there is a rabid group of white supremacists, loud in their slogans, bigoted in their attitudes, violent in their actions, but shown as cowardly at heart when challenged.
Once again, the central character is John, played by George Basha, released from prison, still disturbed by the death of his brother, a drug dealer in the earlier film. The scenes are suggested at the opening. He now spends a lot of his time at the local gym, coaching fighters in boxing, rather hard in his approach, advised by the managers of the gym, who come from different racial backgrounds, especially aboriginal.
John is advised to go and see a counsellor but is reluctant – but is attracted to her, dates her, wants to marry her, is invited to be interviewed by her Muslim father who does not believe in mixed religious marriages. They are held hostage by the drug dealers.
In the meantime, there are new drug runners trying to establish themselves, with a whole range of violent thugs. There is also a young drug dealer, the equivalent of the brother in the previous film, who deals with the kingpin but owes him money. His parents are threatened, eventually killed – and the film ends with him getting his revenge shooting the dealer and his men.
Which means then that the film shows a great deal of life in the western suburbs of Sydney, the racial tensions, the religious tensions, the issue of drugs and young people, the inherent violence, the hope for some kind of peace in families, the gym as a place where young people can channel their energies.
A Sydney slice of life.
1. The title? What redemption? John and his need for redemption?
2. Sydney, the western suburbs, the streets, homes, the gym, drug dealing, white supremacists? A realistic feel?
3. John’s story, his past, his brother, his need for redemption, prison, going to the gym, his friends at the gym, multiracial? Advised to go to the counsellor, the sessions, her questions? His leaving, returning, apology? The attraction, going out, the dating, the possibility for marriage? His going to meet her parents, the discussions, the father and his not believing in mixed marriages? The violence, the disappointment, the reconciliation?
4. The friends at the gym, the different races, the young men and their boxing? John as severe?
5. The drug chief, his manner, the range of thugs, the young man in debt to him, the threats, going to the young man’s home, shooting the father, eventually returning and killing the parents?
6. The young man, self-centred, his money, defying his parents, hitting his mother, walking out? John and his trying to help? The buildup to the confrontation, John setting him up to confront the dealer and the thugs? His shooting the dealers? His shooting John? Driving off?
7. The white supremacists, the ranting, the slogans, oblivious of history, their land, no consideration of the aborigines? The violence, shooting and stalking? The young brother, part of the group, yet rebellious, fighting John, telling him to keep down? His separation from the group, going to the gym, John training him? The confrontation with the older brother, the political leader, rebuking him for his behaviour? John, the fight with the older brother, his cowardly fear?
8. Social issues in Sydney? A way of understanding them?
9. And the happiness of the final credits and the wedding sequence?
