THE ROOSTER

Australia, 2023, 101 minutes, Colour.

Phoenix Raei, Hugo Weaving, John Waters, Rhys Mitchell.

Directed by Mark Leonard Winter.

There are some actual roosters in this film. But, there are some eerie roosters seen in nightmares. And, the rooster can stand as some kind of symbol for the two central characters, Dan (Phoenix Raei) and The Hermit (Hugo Weaving).

This is the feature film writing and directing debut from actor Mark Leonard Winter. In his performances, he is frequently dark and brooding. And he has brought these qualities to his film, dramatic, sometimes comic.

The setting is a small town in the Macedon Ranges outside Melbourne, rather isolated in the bush. And it has only one policeman, Dan, middle-aged, a sad past gradually revealed, driving around, a rather remote shed-office, sometimes a visit from the regional police chief, a brief welcome cameo from veteran, John Waters. He keeps chickens, and the rooster. And he has the dreams, repeated, a mysterious naked woman carrying a rooster, and a body hanging from a tree… Some premonitions of what is to come.

When a friend of Dan’s, with mental difficulties, and parents hostile to Dan, is killed, the man’s wandering dog leads Dan to the grave. But this also leads him further into the bush, coming across another remote house, and encountering Tim, also known as Mit, which is short from his nickname, The Hermit.

While Phoenix Raei gives a convincing performance as Dan, and our sympathies are with him, Hugo Weaving, giving time to Dan, takes over the screen, the dynamics of the story, another sad past gradually revealed, regrets. There are suggestions that something sinister but is this just speculation on Dan’s part, on the audience is part?

The Rooster shows us Hugo Weaving at his screen best, reminding us that he has top line films and television series for decades. He can make each character he portrays a real and convincing.

This is a film about men, sad men, men who become friends, but also wary of each other. The symbol of the growing friendship, apart from alcohol, is The Hermit’s continued invitation to Dan to play table tennis with him.

So, sometimes brooding, sometimes funny, so many sad stories, so many sad pasts, and the discovery of how much a friendship can change the friends, coming to terms with the past, some moments of happiness.

1. The title? The actual roosters, Dan’s favourite, feeding it, challenging it, finding the foxes have killed it? The naked woman in his nightmares giving him the rooster? The final bonding with the new rooster? The symbolic theme of roosters?
2. The Victorian countryside, the town and the stores, the bush, the Hermit in the bush, homes and interiors? Atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The opening, Dan and his nightmare, the man hanging on the tree in the distance, the naked woman and the rooster, Dan in the car, trying to make contact, to be heard? The reprisal of the nightmare? Illuminating his psyche?
4. The revelation that Dan was police, at home, by himself, feeding the chooks, with the rooster, the eggs? Driving to the police hut? The episode with Steve, the audience seeing Steve going through the bush, taking off his clothes, the children playing sport nearby, the gathering of his clothes, Dan putting the blanket over him, taking him home, the episode with his parents and their rejection of Dan? The dog, nickname Boss, at the door, in the middle of the road, leading Dan to Steve buried in the bush?
5. The effect on Dan, travelling through the bush, discovering the Hermit, isolated, his hut, having the bath, calling Dan a pervert, pursuing him? Dan, his return, bringing the alcohol? The core of the film and his bonding with the Hermit? His wanting to find out the truth of what happened to Steve in his death?
6. Hugo Weaving’s portrait of The Hermit, Mit, his real name Tim? Audience response to them, in his house, the bath, naked, his aggression towards Dan? The mysterious background, the photo of wife and daughter? Alcoholic? His anger at Dan, saying his father stole his pay packet (number later explanation that it was taken to give to support his wife and daughter)? The tentative steps, conversation, the importance of the table tennis games, their recurring, the baths, naked? Talking, bonding? Dan and his suspicions, the locked box, the remnant of the fluffy toy? The Hermit gradually talking about the death of Steve, the deal with his motor, burying him?
7. The effect on Dan, the bonding with the Hermit, some friendship in his life, his explanation about his past relationship, unable to have children, his partner leaving him? His memories of his father? The visits from the Chief, telling Dan stories about his father and The Hermit? The Chief and his wanting to track down the hermit, Dan not telling him the truth?
8. The Hermit, his illness, the medication, the cancer, the effect? Dan giving him the walkie-talkie, the conversations, playing the music? The story about his daughter, bringing home the dog, the attack on her? Dan and the audience, suspicious that he had killed his wife and daughter? His death? Dan going, the key, opening the box, and the children’s toys?
9. The photo, the phone number, and making the phone call, the daughter and string, talking with the Hermit’s wife? Arranging the funeral? After the cremation, the Ashes, Dan and his burying them?
10. The repercussions of this experience – and Dan’s future?