COSI

Australia, 1996, 102 minutes, Colour.
Ben Mendelsohn, Barry Otto, Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, Aden Young, Colin Friels, Jacki Weaver, Pamela Rabe, Paul Chubb, Colin Hay, David Wenham, Tony Llewellyn- Jones, Kerry Walker, Robin Ramsay.
Directed by Mark Joffe.

Mark Joffe's version of Louis Nowra's adaptation of his play is a gleeful and gentle Australian contribution to the tradition of truth being told by characters who are `fools'. The title refers to Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte, rehearsed and performed by an unlikely ensemble - as therapy, as a modern-day mental health funding project and as a celebration of joy and beauty of worlds that have been lost and, more than probably, never existed.

What is normal? What is sane? What is the relation between appearances and inner life? Who and where are the truly mad? In a city like Sydney, in cities anywhere, outsiders, unaware of their madness, are the urban inmates running the asylum.

Louis Nowra tells us that this is an autobiographical story. Lewis (played by Ben Mendelsohn with a warm ingenuousness that carries the film) takes the audience with him in his journey from a happy-go-lucky, chancy interview for the play-directing job to an authentic, life-affirming respect for troubled people.

There are some very funny moments thanks particularly to Barry Otto, Paul Chubb and Jackie Weaver. Pamela Rabe and Jackie Weaver, each portrays an inmate at the institution. Each gets through an audition - Pamela Rabe's toneless rendition of `I'm so excited' is striking. (She remarked that on stage she actually sang `Wild Thing' in the same way, but copyright costs for this song were too high.) Jackie Weaver's character is far more extraverted. At the media conference she quipped that she was playing a `homicidal nymphomaniac'... and that it wasn't too much of a stretch!

The theme of Cosi is love and fidelity. The screenplay attempts some parallels between the central characters' relationships and the fidelity test of the opera's libretto. The ensemble acting is excellent with too many fine performers to name and praise. Gentle, wise, eccentric and entertaining.

1.A popular film? Entertaining? With insights?

2.The strong Australian cast? Their screen presence?

3.The Sydney settings, the institution, the homes, the water, Bondi Beach, the theatre? The musical score?

4.The title and Mozart?

5.The film as autobiographical of its writer, Louis Nowra? Quirky and ironic?

6.Lewis and his interview, going to the institution, meeting the committee, his rival waiting outside? The questions, his explanation of himself and ambitions, the theatre, putting on a revue? Errol? Kirner and Sandra? The toss-up?

7.Errol, sardonic, giving Lewis the tour, his comments on the institution and the residents? Friendly, not friendly? Observing him, the auditions? Intervening – and his final help?

8.The auditions, Roy trying to take over? The guest auditions of Paul Mercurio and Greta Scacchi? Barry Otto and his manner as Roy? His mental condition, his love of the theatre, his stories, his life and its elegance (and all made up)? Calling Lewis Jerry? His elitist approach to theatre, to Mozart? His words of exhilaration about Cosi? His up-and-down moods? Treatment of Lewis? Going to see the play at Bondi? Applauding Nick? Criticising Jerry? His comments on Henry? The rehearsals, his interventions, his praising Nick on his visit then attacking him? His stage fright, Lewis’s shrewdness in persuading him to come back? His plans for the future? The exhilaration of the performance?

9.Lewis and his interactions with Roy, his understanding him, growing patient and learning? The discussions with Lucy? At home, her experience in the law? Her expectations of Lewis and jobs? Nick’s arrival, Lucy’s reaction, Lewis allowing him to stay? The friendship, discussion of the theatre? The bet? And Lewis’s later embarrassment? The discussions about Gogol? His bringing Nick to look at the play? Nick and his condescension? Lewis’s attack on him, the falling out of friendship? Their going to see the play? Lucy and her change of attitude, the relationship with Nick? Finding Doug in the house, her reaction? Nick driving them back, Lucy breaking off the relationship? Nick at the play – and the reactions? The attack on him? Lucy arriving and supporting Lewis?

10.The various scenes of rehearsal, the enjoyment, things going wrong, the discussions, Ruth and her nervousness, Cherry and her interventions? Doug and his sabotaging? His criticisms? His foul mouth? Lewis and the text, Roy and his wanting the music, Lewis going over the score? The burning down of the hall? The new premises, costumes and décor, the music, the lighting?

11.Toni Collette as Julie, the reasons for her being in the institution, her behaviour, dressing in black, drug addiction? Her singing, enjoying the rehearsals, the attraction to Lewis, the kiss? The performance and her exhilaration? The prospects for her future? Her saving the day and singing ‘Stand By Me’? Her parents and their disapproval? The final discussion with Lewis – some hope?

12.Pamela Rabe as Ruth, nervous, the discussion about imagination, the number of steps, her being literal? Her change and enthusiasm?

13.Paul Chubb as Henry, quiet, the law, nerves, yet shrewd when he spoke, his telling-off of Nick, naming Macbeth and having to run round the theatre three times for Roy?

14.Jacki Weaver as Cherry, her age, the come-ons, tough, nice?

15.Doug, foulmouthed, sneering, disrupting, the cat and the arson, his burning down the theatre, his being held behind bars, his escape, at home, confronting Lucy, his language towards her, his behaviour at the play?

16.Colin Hay as the musician, playing, wanting to play ‘The Ride of the Valkyries’ on the accordion, finally playing it during the credits?

17.The institution manager, his concerns, Sandra and her telling people off, the minister and his enjoyment of the play?

18.The performance, things going wrong, the cast enjoying it, exhilaration and singing, the electricity failing, Julie singing ‘Stand By Me’, lighting the sparklers?

19.An all’s well that ends well story – light and entertaining but with insight?