Boxing Day
September 3rd 2008 00:06
Conceived and directed by Kriv Stender, with a “scriptment” workshopped by Stender and lead actor Richard Green, Boxing Day is unconventional to say the least, yet stays true to the raw resonant power of cinema. The visual narrative unfolds in what appears to be a single unbroken take, but in reality was made up of about ten or so sections. This was enabled by shooting the movie on HD digital tape.
The story takes place in real time over the course of roughly an hour and half on the afternoon of Boxing Day somewhere in the arid outer suburbs of Adelaide. It concerns parolee Chris (Green) who we see preparing lunch for his brother’s ex-wife Donna (Tammy Anderson) and her 13-year-old daughter Brooke (Misty Sparrow). They’re accompanied by Donna’s new boyfriend Dave (Syd Brisbane).
However before the extended family arrives Chris is visited by a former jail mate Owen (parolee Stuart Clarke), who, armed with a case of beer, tries to lure Chris off the wagon, then tries to persuade him to indulge in smoking crystal meth, which Chris won’t have a bar of. But Owen’s inherent criminality does put Chris right on edge though.
Richard Green as Chris
Green, an indigenous poet, musician and actor, has served time in Long Bay Prison, and thus much of the material he and Stender conceived for Boxing Day came from stories Green had heard during his three stints in jail. Although much of what occurs on screen was borne from improvisation Boxing Day still has a brilliantly controlled and structured atmosphere. It’s like Mike Leigh meets Martin Scorsese.
Misty Sparrow as Brooke and Syd Brisbane as Dave
The acting is all excellent, but huge props have to go to Green, Anderson, Clarke and Sparrow. With a cast of only six: three professional (Green, Anderson and Brisbane) and three unprofessional (Sparrow, Clarke and Catriona Hadden, a real-life social worker and parole officer plays Chris’s home detention officer), Boxing Day is a tour-de-force of seething, volatile emotions.
Stuart Clarke as Owen
But beware, despite its festive title Boxing Day is not entertainment easily digested. It kicks and thrashes and pushes buttons of contempt and disgust. But it also portrays the intricacies of human frailty and loneliness with compassion and intelligence. It’s a fiercely unique film - the kind I’m sure maverick auteur Lars von Trier and his Dogme manifesto would be impressed by – and essential viewing for those who appreciate uncompromising, unpredictable drama.
For collectors Siren Visual have released a superb double disc special edition with tons of extras on the creative process of this audacious and experimental movie.
Boxing Day DVD is courtesy of Siren Visual, many thanks!
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Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I'm glad you had a chance to see this - I was really surprised how much I liked it. Did you watch the special features? The spoken word poetry by Richard Green was really powerful and moving, I thought.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
After I posted and saw you'd already reviewed it I was slutted. You took the wind out of my sails dammit! I have to admit I haven't read your review yet.
Haven't gone through all the extra features either, there's lots! I wanna watch the alternate feature version too.
Yes, very impressed with the movie. I was surprised Margaret and David only gave it three stars.