THE LEUNIG FRAGMENTS
Australia, 2019, 97 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Kasimir Burgess.
Michael Leunig has been an extraordinary presence in the Australian imagination for several decades. This is particular the case because of his prolific cartoons his immediately recognisable sketch style – appearing frequently in the pages of The Melbourne Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. He has a wry view of human nature, of the world, of the universe.
This is a portrait of Leunig rather than a biography – he often appears as a difficult character, unpredictable, with moods, and members of his family with the exception of one son were unwilling to participate.
The director, Kasimir Burgess, made contact with Leunig and was able to film the cartoonist over a period of five years, sometimes with long time lapses in between takes.
There are many talking heads who are most complementary about Leunig, especially the comic genius, the late John Clarke and Philip Adams some of the cartoonists provocations as “waspish�. However, there are also some remarks included by fans of his cartoons who find themselves not particularly moved by Leunig as a person. Some television personalities, like Virginia Trioli, are critical of some of the stances he has taken.
So, the film is in bits and pieces, something like a jigsaw puzzle, but not complete, many holes, many gaps. But there is enough material here, perhaps more than enough, about Leunig’s life and its effect on him, the development of his views, his characters, Mr Curley and the duck, the range of his art and style, some of the cartoons becoming alive in animation. There is a final session at the Sydney Opera House with his doing a sketching session on stage.
Admiring him, or disliking him (or his cartoons), he has a distinctive point of view, continually consciousness-raising.
1. The title, the focus on Leunig? Fragments, bits and pieces, the whole – or not?
2. Audience knowledge, appreciation of Leunig, his fans – or not? The point made about liking his work, but not knowing anything about it? Knowing something making a difference?
3. Leunig as an artist, his skill at sketching, his range of images, the duck, Mr Curley, his philosophy of life, his social concern, waspish? His long career? Seeing him as young, Is Branching out, exhibitions, books, the final session at the Opera house and his sketching? Turning 70?
4. The film made over a period of five years? The agreement with the director? Leunig and the different phases of the five years? The story of his marriages, 26 years of marriage and separation? His family, their not willing to participate in the film? The photos, his children? The one son and his agreeing to talk about his father? The gap between him and his family? Alone, loneliness?
5. The range of celebrities and their praise of Leunig, testimony of Philip Adams, the discussions with John Clarke…?
6. Leunig’s presence, appearance, clothes? Agreeing to be interviewed, the range of situations and places? Performance? His reflections?
7. His place in Australian society, as a satirist, as a questioner? The range of examples in the film, their animation, drama?
8. Leunig and his critique, the issue of vaccination, being interviewed on television? Some leadership animosity?
9. His view of society, his disappointment, seclusion, moral stances, hope for improvement? The emphasis of hope, human nature, and ugliness in a beautiful world?
