HOW DO YOU KNOW CHRIS?
Australia, 2020, 86 minutes, Colour.
Luke Cook, Lynn Gilmartin, Travis Mc Mahon, Rachel Kim Cross, Lee Mason, Jacob Machin, Ellen Grimshaw, Dan Haberfield, Susan Stevenson, Tatiana Quaresma, Stephen Caracher.
Directed by Ashley Harris.
Fair question? Especially as Chris has invited significant characters from his past to a party at his flat, Melbourne, the year 2000 (and some comment on the Olympics).
In fact, the film opens and closes with a 19-year-old a young woman, Emmy (Tatiana Quaresma). She goes into a laundromat, has forgotten coins, asks a friendly man there to mind her bag, he finishes his laundry, has asked her about the music she was listening to and gives her, from his laundry, a T-shirt of the band. He introduces himself as Chris, has been writing in a notebook, invites her to his flat for the party that evening. She is hesitant. She has assignments.
The main part of the film is actually the party. It is reminiscent of those many films and plays where guests gather, interact, happily, unhappily, even savagely – memories of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Boys in the Band. Chris is late so absent in the first 30 minutes or so. The film might have been called “Waiting for Chris�. But, that enables Emma to arrive, to meet two guests, very formally dressed, Mike and Dot, not sure what they have been invited. Inside, Emmy and the audience is introduced to Justin, close friend from school days, and his wife, Claire, also from the school days. By contrast, and again from the school days, is Tim Bluck, nickname Blucker , now in a wheelchair after an accident, but the sports champion in those supposedly good old days. There is Chris’s boss at the company, Shane, dressed like Sherlock Holmes. And, all in black, Gothic make up, his Crystal who seems to be Chris’s girlfriend. There is some ambiguity because the flat seems to be shared by Chris and Frank (and some comments about sexual relationships).
The main audience for this film seems to be twentysomethings, the audience who are the same age as the main characters (Chris is 28), who identify with them, share their interests and behaviour and relationships. Which makes it a bit harder for older audiences to do the same kind of sharing, to find the same kind of interest.
When Chris does eventually arrive, he does make the rounds of each character. However, his behaviour seems uncertain, ambiguous, different memories and different places where he encountered each of the characters – and his mother finally arriving.
The question all the way through, for the guests and for the audience, is why the party. Alert audiences will perceive a clue early in the film but will not be sure whether it is a clue or not. In fact, it is a strong clue leading to a climax, Chris addressing the group, remembering the impact of each of the persons, expressing gratitude (except for a savage reminder of what Blucker was like as a school bully).
Going back to the title, the audience could be asked how well they got to know Chris. And it is something of a sad story.
1. Question of the title? Recurring throughout the party? How well did people know Chris?
2. Melbourne, 2000, the prospect of the Olympic Games?
3. The central characters, in their 20s, the target audience, identifying with the characters and situations?
4. The introduction to Emmy, walking along the street, listening to the music, going to the laundromat, needing coins, the encounter with Chris? Is minding her bag? His laundry, giving her the T-shirt of the band? Inviting her to the party? Her saying she had assignments?
5. The decision to go to the party? The encounter with Mike and Dot, feeling underdressed? Going into the party? Chris absent? The half hour for them and the audience “Waiting for Chris�? The enigma of Chris and Frank? Sharing the flat? One person?
6. Audience interest in the range of guests? Mike and Dot and her Irish background, cheerful, not knowing anyone, enjoying the drinks, wanting to go, remaining for the drinks? Mike, the background of graphic designer, a DJ? His age, looking serious? Dealing with Dot? Her chat with Emmy, issues of age and appearance, her story, modelling?
7. Crystal, the black and Goth look, the relationship with Chris? Enigmatic, in the toilet, the cocaine, interactions with Emmy? The later discussions about food, her being a vegan? Shane criticising her drugtaking?
8. Shane, Chris’s boss, the company, advertising, the cigarette poster on the wall, memories of Chris’s father? Dressed as Sherlock Holmes? The challenge to play table tennis with Justin? Enjoying the wheelchair?
9. Justin and Clare, together, memories of the past at school, Tim Gluck, nickname of Blucker? Bad memories of school? Memories and interactions? Blucker as sportsman, Idol, bully? His accident, in his wheelchair? Animosity towards Justin? The table tennis game and the fiasco?
10. Emmy, wandering from person-to-person, getting to know them, hearing their stories?
11. Ray, serving the drinks, serving the food, a genial presence?
12. Chris’s mother, the background of her husband, work, communicating with Chris, affection? His wary behaviour with her?
13. Chris, final arrival, late, his spending the time with each guest, happy memories with Justin and Clare, unhappy memories with Blucker, the tension with Crystal, sexual tension? His gratitude towards Shane, another father? The ambiguity with Mike? The previous discussion about homosexuality and gays? Chris upstairs, Mike approaching him, the memories
of their past relationship, Chris’s advance and stopping, Mike and his behaviour, Michael leaving the party? Chris, the discussions with Emmy, going to the roof, her advance, the sexual encounter, his leaving? Emmy leaving the party?
14. Chris, the meeting with all the guests, his thanks, his attack on Blucker? Going upstairs, the notes? Throwing himself from the window? The reaction of the guests? Mike and his seeing Emmy, putting her on the train, his coming back and seeing Chris dead? The sadness and the confusion?
15. The postscript, six months later, Emmy walking along the street?
