RUNT

Australia, 2024, 91 minutes, Colour.

Jai Courtney, Lily LaTorre, Matt Day, Jack Thompson, Deborah Mailman, Genevieve Lemon, Jack LaTorre, Celeste Barber, Joel Jackson, Sarah Roberts, Tom Budge.

Directed by John Sheedy.

Everybody loves Runt – well, everybody except the archvillain, Fergus Fink. Even those who might profess themselves as non-dog lovers are quickly on the side of Runt. He is a stray, mixed breed, chased around the town by the authorities and angry shopowners where he has nabbed some sausages. But, he is small, non-threatening, and often, as the Americans say, he is “cute”.

We are in a West Australian town in the middle of a long, long drought, threats to the farmers, threats to the economy, and the vain and greedy landowner with the significant pun in his name, Earl Robert-Barren, Jack Thompson enjoying himself playing most arrogant! We are in sympathy with dad, Joe Courtney, inheriting the land from his father, and grandfather, an inventor, and in sympathy with mum, Celeste Barber (very nice but a bit too often the target of complaint about the terrible pies she makes). And a lively gran is at home, Genevieve lemon.

But the focus is on the children, especially Annie, 10 years old, played very confidently by Lily LaTorre. She instantly bonds with Runt and he becomes part of the family. Also at home is her older brother, Max (played by Lily’s actual older brother Jack LaTorre) who videos all his action stunts building up an extraordinary fan following and providing some exciting moments as well is plot developments with his daring-do.

After establishing the family characters and their problems, attention turns to the local fair, especially a competition an Agility Course Championship involving a whole range of dogs speeding through quite a complex obstacle course. Enter the moustachioed villain, Fergus Fink (veteran Matt Day as we have never seen him before), moustachioed, glittering cape, histrionic and narcissistic performance, straight out of old-time pantomimes. Naturally, a great deal of rivalry, and a problem because Runt is unable to perform when anyone is watching. His whole focus is on Annie so no audience to see his victory. Of course, Runt winds, enabling Annie and Runt to go to the national championships, to the scorn of Fergus Fink and, again of course, his hostility and cheating. But the goal is to compete in London, Annie and Runt qualifying but the town rallying together to get enough money to pay the air fares in London accommodation.

With Matt Day and Jack Thompson providing pantomime villain action, the film is also something of a fairytale – especially a fairy godmother in the form of Deborah Mailman, a past champion, stepping in, with charm, to help Annie and Runt in their training.

By this stage all of us, non-dog-lovers included, are in for hope for Runt’s success and the downfall of Fergus Fink. No spoilers here – but it does not all turn out as we might have expected. The spoiler is, but really no spoiler at all, a very happy ending for everyone – and including rain!

An enjoyable film, from Western Australia, with characters who, in the old days, were called battlers as they tried to survive.

1. The title, the term, the underdog?
2. Western Australian setting, farms and drafts, the country town and life, atmosphere, homes, the sheep, homesteads, the dam, the dry river, drought atmosphere (and the final rains), dog trials, the transition to London, atmosphere, the competitiveness? The musical score?
3. The theme of the past, the Aussie battlers, making a living, exploitation by the wealthy, families keeping together?
4. The introduction to Runt, being chased around the town, stealing the sausages…? The meeting with Annie? Immediately bonding? Runt and his look, attractive, shy with people watching, dependent on Annie?
5. The family background, the father, the farmer, the inheritance from his grandfather and father, the inventions, rainmaking, his work with the sheep, the fences, but his interest in horticulture? The clash with Earl Robert Baron? Relationship with his wife, with Annie, with Max? His mother living with them? An engaging family? And the frequent jokes about the mother’s bad cooking and pies?
6. Max, his age, his derring-do, all the stunts, filming, the many followers on social media? Going up the tower, the grandfather’s rain making machine, failing – but the later success?
7. Grandmother, living at home, tough, supportive? The later meeting with Bernadette and their getting on?
8. The competition, the fair, the fairground and entertainment, again the jokes about the pies, the dogs, the introduction to Fergus Fink, pantomime character, pantomime villain, boastful, his dog, his put upon assistant? The competition? The hurdles for the dogs, the speed?
9. Annie, wanting to enter, with nobody watching, the time, winning? Fink’s reaction?
10. The visit with Bernadette, her past, with dogs, the advice, support, training?
11. The national trials, the prospect for London, Runt and the decision to have the eye shield, the reaction of Fink, his own display, the cheating? Stealing the shield?
12. Life in the town, the school, shops, the police, and everybody gathering to collect money to pay for the fares to London?
13. The trip to London, the poor accommodation, going to the competition, the crowds, the commentary, Runt, Fergus Fink? Runt and his being unwilling to run, the response of the crowd? The disappointment, and supporting Annie in front of the crowd, the response? Fink and his comeuppance?
14. The return home, the rain, the dam overflowing, the river filling, Earl Robert Baron and his comeuppance? The welcome home, Annie and the promotions, the father and his plans and growth?