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Snowtown
So unusually for the second week in a row i seem to have been to watch a film that not many people on here are talking about!
Snowtown is about the Snowtown murders in South Australia in the 1990 perpetrated by a gang lead by John Bunting (more info here for those interested http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowtown_murders)
It's focus is on Bunton's relationship with James Vlassakis, the son of Bunting's partner, whom he gradually drew in to his gang, presenting Bunting as being a man who is highly manipulative and whom effectively conditions James, aged just 14 when they first met and the victim of sexual abuse from both a neighbour and his own brother, first by befriending him, then by making himself a father figure to him. It's chilling to see how this played out on screen.
It was a very difficult film to watch, although with the exception of one scene the more graphic elements of the murder were kept of the screening (though the use of voices messages the gang forced their victims to record to explain their disappearance is brutally effective in it's own right) but very powerful, with some compelling performances from a largely inexperienced cast (most of whom were locals from the area the killings took place). In particular Daniel Henshall gives a grotesquely charismatic turn as Bunting, while Lucas Pittaway as turn as Vlassakis, a troubled young man slowly but surely losing his humanity as time passes, might just break your heart.
I think a better film could have been told about the circumstances surrounding the murders, but clearly that wasn't what this film set out to do. What it did do brilliantly was explore how someone can find themselves doing things they would never have dreamed possible because of the relationships they develop with people around them. It will linger long in my mind. 9/10
Snowtown is about the Snowtown murders in South Australia in the 1990 perpetrated by a gang lead by John Bunting (more info here for those interested http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowtown_murders)
It's focus is on Bunton's relationship with James Vlassakis, the son of Bunting's partner, whom he gradually drew in to his gang, presenting Bunting as being a man who is highly manipulative and whom effectively conditions James, aged just 14 when they first met and the victim of sexual abuse from both a neighbour and his own brother, first by befriending him, then by making himself a father figure to him. It's chilling to see how this played out on screen.
It was a very difficult film to watch, although with the exception of one scene the more graphic elements of the murder were kept of the screening (though the use of voices messages the gang forced their victims to record to explain their disappearance is brutally effective in it's own right) but very powerful, with some compelling performances from a largely inexperienced cast (most of whom were locals from the area the killings took place). In particular Daniel Henshall gives a grotesquely charismatic turn as Bunting, while Lucas Pittaway as turn as Vlassakis, a troubled young man slowly but surely losing his humanity as time passes, might just break your heart.
I think a better film could have been told about the circumstances surrounding the murders, but clearly that wasn't what this film set out to do. What it did do brilliantly was explore how someone can find themselves doing things they would never have dreamed possible because of the relationships they develop with people around them. It will linger long in my mind. 9/10
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It was a really disturbing film. Not because of the gore, because it was far from gratuitous and not for how evil people were. It was disturbing because everything seemed so normal to these people and yet so foreign, but during the film we accept it as a way of life.
I thought it was perfectly done when I came away from the film feeling somewhat as concerned about some of the culprits as much as I was the victims, which is perfectly natural considering we weren't given the chance to know the victims.
I did watch a documentary about the case before I watched the film and thought it was done as tastefully as possible regarding family members. I would recommend doing a little reading or watching before going to the film as the storyline does largely ignore the victims. It doesn't show or name all of them so I do feel a chance to miss the scale of the crimes could be missed.
It was difficult to watch, there are some scenes that stay with you, and it's not necessarily what you might expect of a film of this nature. It was underplayed, acted well and has a fly-on-the-wall feel about it. Home and Away it is not!
All in all, I think it was a good film, though I wouldn't call it 'entertainment'. I'm glad it was Australian made rather than having any Hollywood exuberance.
I'd give it a good 8.5/10
I saw it at the Greenwich Picture House. I think it had a bit of a limited release. Perhaps you might be able to get it on DVD in due course?
Slightly depressing in a way that you get pages of discussion about fodder like Twilight and nothing about a really good, thought provoking film like this, but such is life I guess...:)
I agree, it wasn't entertainment, and one of the most challenging films I have had to sit through, but it was brilliantly grafted.
Very much worth seeing, I would recommend it, as long as you are not too put off by disturbing themes.
Extremely difficult to watch in parts, although it doesn't show a lot of gore it implies it and that is enough...
It gives you an uneasy feeling throughout with the way it's shot and the music and has a bad feel to it.
Fantastically acted considering they are mostly amateurs.
Overall a great film although it wasnt to my taste
7/10
Had seen it recommended on Film 2011 as one of the films of the year.
I knew nothing about it, and did not know that it was based on real life events. Half way though I was thinking it was a bit far fetched, so I utterly gasped at the end when I realized it was based on fact.
The whole thing is very well done, the director paces it well and some of the cinematography stills are stunning and so effective.
The taped messages by victims were chilling, though it took me a while to figure out what they were
It is difficult to watch, and I had to cover my eyes a few times, but I really have not a good stomach for violence, and in fairness it was not in any way gratuitous.
The mindset of those depicted in the pedophile hate group is shocking, I mean you see people with strange views on Jeremy Kyle etc, but to these people the whole attitudes were normalized, like how else would you think?
And yet in saying all that, I felt the helplessness and lack of understanding for the whole section of society. There are so many people with nobody to stand up for them, who will be instantly taken advantage of and mistreated. I'm not saying how they acted was right, far from it, but I felt it very well illustrated that feeling of being excluded from society.
I am off to do some research as I knew nothing of this case.
The cast were excellent, fantastic performances from relative unknowns.
This one is going to stay with me for a long time.
Wouldn't want to see it again but I have been recommending it to all my friends as a must see.
Just watched the trailer for this, lol yes late i know. Looks good!
Mildly sad but wouldn't play on my mind for days
Oh and the poster talking about people with unusual views, it's not that unusual, every few months there are threads on here about how we should castrate and torture various criminals. I'm sure there are a lot more on forums that allow swearing. :eek:
Definitely an accomplished piece of work though, and a side of Australia we so rarely see (the Australian version of 'chavs', grey clouds etc).
Does anyone know whether there was controversy back in Oz whether the film was made 'too soon', as the murders took place in the 1990's. Whenever UK films and tv shows are made about recent murders, there always seems to be some controversy, eg the recent Fred West tv adaption.
Glad I watched it but I don't feel I'd have missed anything if I hadn't watched it.
I think it was well received generally, as it was felt to be a less speculative piece than the "documentaries" that were made in the first year or two after the event.
Theres an interview with the director here from the Adelaide Review which touches on how it was received in Australia:
http://www.adelaidereview.com.au/article/838
Powerful movie. Even the beginning stayed with me - just nothing to do for these young people. Social deprivation Australian style. I lived in New Zealand for a few years, and though another country - the layout of those streets and houses are very similar in both countries.
Thought the actress who played the mother was very good. And the actors who played Jamie and Bunting where excellent. Though I thought both actors looked too young and too old respectively for their parts.
I was also confused of who was who in film.
The film also stated at the end that the mother was meant to be charged for a murder as well - but died of cancer before reaching trail. I kind of wished that was made obvious in the film, as the movie portrays the mother as being naive to the murders. Or so I understood it. but fully understand that the film isn't about the mother's story.
The very ending got to me as well -
A special mention to the haunting music throughout it, that has stayed with me too
Given its disturbing content, I didn't expect it to have a thread of its own, but thought at least it may have been described in a sub-thread at some point in its release.
I've only seen one other movie that really disturbed me in its context since then, and that was 'The Girl Next Door'.....albeit apart from the fact that both were based primarily around true life events, and also the disturbing events surrounding both cases, I wasn't a fan of either given the content and therefore felt no desire to comment on them further.
But good call on the acting, directing etc., on this movie. It certainly is worth mentioning in terms of debate amongst other more palatable movies out there at the moment.
cheers for the info. don't have that channel, but found it on youtube!
Crime Scene Australia
I have seen the first 15 mins so far, very interesting and will watch more later.
Be prepared for a pretty gruesome experience.
This film totally draws you in.
That's how good it is. Everything about it seems normal and everyday life and then all of a sudden you are suckered right into the core of it!