UNSOUND

Australia, 2020, 87 minutes, Colour.

Yiana Pandelis, Reece Noi, Todd McKenney, Christine Anu, Paula Duncan, Terry Serio.

Directed by Ian Watson.

Unsound is a brief, small-budget film, made in Sydney, capitalising at times on the scenic aspects of Sydney, the bridge, the harbour, the ferries, the Northern Beaches.

At the centre, with a meaning of the title, is the issue of hearing impairment, a local centre, the Deaf Club, with children and others coming in during the day for learning possibilities, painting… And, at night, it turning into a nightclub where the deaf could come and enjoy music, not the sounds but the vibrations and the rhythms, the music played loud, complaints from the neighbours and the police coming to stop the music.

Also at the centre of is the issue of transgender and transition, a female transitioning to a male, the consequences, procedures, day by day behaviour… And, linked with this are issues of sexual orientation.

There are two central characters. One is Finn, who lives with her father, works at the centre, is the DJ at the club at night. Finn is eager, but also angry, in herself, the experience of the transition, the reaction of the police, clashing with her father, upset at his control. Her father is played by Todd McKenney, who had a long career in musical theatre. Finn is played by Yiana Pandelis, who, herself, suffered hearing loss.

The other character is Noah, Reece Noi, from Manchester, in Australia, accompanying a singer, played by Christine Anu, veteran of clubs and performance. Noah clashes with her, improvising on his guitar, coming to Sydney, somewhat awestruck, reuniting with his mother, Paula Duncan, he wanders, comes into the club, not reading that it is a Deaf Club and encounters Finn. They communicate, Finn in writing on a tablet, he speaking. And the friendship grows with his return to the club, the work with the children during the day, the exhilaration of the music at night, dancing with Finn, explanations, the developing relationship, his promising to come to the club but the clash with his mother and his throwing his guitar into the water.

Tensions between the two, but, ultimately, Noah coming with Moniqua to perform at the Open Day for the club, singing, signing, everybody signing and feeling the rhythms. The future is open, Finn urging Noah to go on tour with Moniqua, Finn and continuing transition.

1. The title? The deaf? The impact of sound, not heard, but felt? The meaning of unsound as not healthy?
2. The Sydney settings, the views of the harbour, the Northern Beaches, the streets and shops, the Deaf Club, homes, wealthy mansions?
3. The musical score, the range of songs, Christine Anu, performance, guitar playing? The loud music at the club? The final song, sung, felt, applauded?
4. The two central characters and their introduction, the different backgrounds?
5. Noah, his age, accompanying Moniqua, improvising, her looking critical, the audience and their response? The clash with Moniqua, Noah and his decision to leave, going to Sydney, his background in England, Manchester? Going to his mother, her response to him? Staying with her, her condition, the piano and songs, his playing, the storage, getting the guitar, playing? Is mother’s reaction, throwing it into the water?
6. Finn, transgender, the transition in process, doctors, drugs, gym exercise? Concealing her hair, hair like her mothers, the sisters and cutting, her cutting her hair? At the Deaf Club, playing the music so loudly, the enthusiasm of the crowd, the complaints from the neighbours, the police coming, her father’s reaction, her arguments with him, strong stances? The repetition, the police coming again? Her angry tantrum, everybody leaving? Her relationship with her father, love, arguments, feeling that she was controlled, yet her Club? Daytime, the clients, the children, painting? And the recruiting of people to come to the club? The staff, those with hearing, those without, the girl urging her to fight and to ignore the neighbours and complaints?
7. Noah, coming into the club, finding Finn, the immediate friendliness, communication, her tablet, his being able to speak? Sleeping the night? Sending him off? His return, the friendship, discussions, the situation at the club, the children painting, the music, dancing with Finn? The blossoming relationship, kiss, explanations? Going to the water, his going for a swim, Finn attaching the penis, not wanting to undress, going into the water clothed?
8. Noah, personal difficulties, the guitar and the loss, his desire to play, going to meet Moniqua, the issue of the tour, her having a different accompanist?
9. The issue of the open day, Noah not turning up, Finn’s disappointment? The falling out, the arguments, Finn and her buying the guitar, coming to apologise? Noah, hurt, with his mother, the possibility for the tour, asking Moniqua to come for the open day, discovering the guitar?
10. The open day, the preparations, the crowd, Moniqua and Noah coming, the song, the signing, the faux pas with the four letter sign? The humour?
11. The future, Finn and the transition, Noah and the tour, the relationship?