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 | Look Both Ways Director: Sarah Watt Rated: M Palace Nova Cinemas, Now showing  This is a very modestly produced local gem that will find a huge audience, once people who've seen it start talking. Without losing any of the vision or even the painterly style of her celebrated short-films, director Sarah Watt has made one of the best Australian feature films for many years. 'Look Both Ways' is a film intimately about us, now, shot entirely on location in Adelaide (including at the Norwood Pool and Linear Park). It was rightly selected as the opening film for this year's Adelaide Film Festival. In her daring debut, Watt uses an innovative mix, interspersing live action with animated sequences and exhilarating montages. She tells a wonderful story, making universally relevant observations about modern life. When one young man is hit by a train and another is diagnosed with cancer, repercussions spread through a group of Adelaidians over a scorchingly hot weekend. Nick visits a doctor for a routine medical and is given devastating news but has to wait until Monday for specialist advice. Meryl, returning from a funeral, has until Monday to finish her art project or lose her job. She imagines disaster at every turn, but soon finds reality tragic enough. Journalist Andy is thrown by his girlfriend's pregnancy. And then there's the train driver, his punk son, the newspaper editor and sundry members of their families. While 'multi-character' films notoriously fail or simply aren't made, notable exceptions such as Robert Altman's 'Nashville', 'M.A.S.H.' and 'Gosford Park' have succeeded because of their great stories and brilliant ensemble acting. Here, Justine Clarke (Meryl), William McInnes (Nick), Anthony Hayes (Andy), Lisa Flanagan (Anna), Andrew S. Gilbert, Daniela Farinacci, Sacha Horler, Maggie Dence, Edwin Hodgman and Andreas Sobik all create authentic characters, and play naturally off each other. This reflects glowingly on Watt's skill as a director and on her clever visual story-telling and perfectly-pitched dialogue. Themes of illness, loneliness and loss weave amongst motifs of trains, cricket and water, all beautifully shown by Watt's regular cinematographer Ray Argall. The inclusion of rapid-fire sequences of photographs collapsing long periods of time adds a unique dimension, while animated sequences echo Watt's brilliant short films 'Small Treasures' and 'Living with Happiness'. Andrew Plain's soundscape is similarly superb, from background suburban noises to clear conversations, well-matched songs and original music by Amanda Brown. The result is an uplifting film about everyday heroism, with attractive, 'real' characters learning to relate genuinely. It exquisitely combines hilarious moments with darker comedy and unbearable poignancy, making it a gift rich with wisdom for mature audiences. Immediately enjoyable and deeply affecting as the film is with its combination of big ideas and fine detail, it also deepens with a second viewing. Chiming with deep truth, 'Look Both Ways' is a really great film. See for yourself.  | |
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