THE FINAL WINTER
Australia, 2007, Colour.
Matthew Nable, John Jarratt,
Directed by Brian Andrews and Jane Forrest.
After Footy Legends, another film about Rugby League. Once again, it is not necessary to know the finer points of the game (or any of the less finer points), though, for those who do, the connection with actual Sydney teams and the changes since the 1980s where money has become more important than the sport will make some impact.
The action takes place over a week and charts the professional crisis (accompanied by a crisis at home) for professional player Grub (played by Matthew Nable who wrote the screenplay). Receiving a reprimand for striking in the Saturday match, he has to face the greedy wheeler-dealer owner, a tribunal, his younger brother and his being poached for another team. He also has to face the fact that he is getting older, that the game has changed. He also has to face the fact that he is like many Australian men, loving his wife and children but hesitant in expressing it, alienating his children and exasperating his wife. It is not an unfamiliar story but in its Australian straightforwardness and grittiness it works well as a local drama.
Performances are strong and John Jarratt appears as the club owner.
There is a lot of nostalgia in the screenplay for a time when the game was a game, rough and tumble yes, but a game and a code. While a modest film in scope and scale, it holds the interest.
1.Australian atmosphere? New South Wales? Sydney? The world of rugby league?
2.The film highlighting rugby league – but the plot, situations, characters, crises not dependent solely on the football code?
3.A sports film, focus on clubs, money, players, contracts? Contemporary problems in professional sport?
4.The scenes of play, giving way to characters and situations?
5.The club traditions, the kids brought up by their parents, fans, playing, training, coaches, the presidents, the clubs? The change at the end of the 20th century?
6.The focus on the player, as a boy, growing older, relationship with his father, going to the pub, the drink, the fight? A lifestyle? The inner-city suburbs? As a younger man, playing, training, success? Marriage, relationship with his wife, kids? The time for playing compared with time at home? His growing older, changing, rougher play?
7.The crisis, the structure of the weak, day by day in his crisis?
8.His age, playing for so many years, the clashes with the coach, clashes with the owner? Clashes with his younger brother? The bad play, his injury, his being reported? Going to the pub, his conversations with the barmaid? At home, discussions with his wife? The kids and their antipathy towards him? His inability to communicate, avoiding issues? His self-preoccupation? Not being able to hear? Talking with his brother, going to the hearing, dressing up, the reporters? His answers? The owner? The reaction of the board hearing the case? The discussions with the coach afterwards, whether he would play or not? Going to the dressing room, the threats from the owner, being chosen, the spirit before going out to play? Playing, a local hero?
9.The portrait of the wife, loving and devoted, the detail of home life, communication and lack of communication, her needs, the children, the bonds with the children, playing with them, homework? The hard attitudes of her husband? Her being hurt? Exasperated?
10.The younger brother, the difference in age, his attitude, the different club, the offer from the owner, the talks, going to the pub, with his brother, going to the hearing, testifying for his brother, his wife, her ambitions, wanting the money, the glamorous life, the irony that he recognised that she had known the owner, despite the denials? A future? His decision?
11.The picture of the players, characters, support? The question of going to other clubs, the young friend and his not being chosen, going to another club?
12.The coach, caught between the players and the owners, behaviour at the hearing, talks, with the owner, defying him?
13.The owner, money, business, hiring players, with the younger brother’s wife, softening her up, pressurising her? The discussions with the player, exercising power, arrogance? The hearing, his condemnation, the officials’ reaction to him? His lies? Being humiliated?
14.The ordinary people, the suburbs, the fans, in the pub, the wisdom of the barmaid?
15.Family themes, the son, the daughter, their own sports, their being hurt, dislike of their father, relenting, going to watch him, the picnic atmosphere?
16.A film both local and universal?
