|
Look Both Ways review
:. Director: Sarah Watt
:. Starring: Justine Clarke, William McInnes
:. Running Time: 1:40
:. Year: 2006
:. Country: Australia
|
"Look both ways" is the kind, but important warning adults give kids as they first venture out into a world of highways, byways and bad drivers. The surface message is "be careful when crossing the street," but underneath hides "be careful when crossing the street or you'll get hit by a car and possibly be maimed, paralyzed or killed." That's one way of looking at life: Death is all around us, and you're sure to die. But that's just one way of looking at things. Look both ways.
In one of this Australian drama's best scenes, two characters obsessed with death look a different way. One is an artist, Meryl Lee (Clarke), who turns everyday events in her imagination into fatal accidents and crimes after the sudden passing of her father. The other is a globe-trotting photographer, Nick (McInnes), who in the movie's first few minutes is diagnosed with testicular cancer that's traveled to his lungs. He starts seeing, in photographic montages, terrible sickness and death. The two are awkwardly flirting in Meryl's apartment after unexpected encounters at the scene of an accident and the next day on the street. They both anxiously confide in each other that they see death when they look at people, then just as anxiously ask if they see death when they look at each other. Both answer no. In just a few days' time, their relationship grows just as suddenly as the cancer tumors Nick imagines bursting from his body and the faces of strangers.
But that's just one piece of the film's narrative, which also boasts a Crash-like intermingling of people, events, hopes and fears with unplanned pregnancies, reformed workaholics, terrible grief and familial reconciliation. However, unlike Crash — a film about racism that beat viewers over the head with its message — Look Both Ways tackles the ultimate equalizer, death, with gentle touches and a believable dialogue and story. The film starts in a fearful world where everyone is absorbed with death and mortality. It ends with a musical finale that brings a sense of calm and comfort to every grieving, troubled character and a sudden photographic montage straight out of Nick's head that brings closure for viewers. (Note: The soundtrack sports a collection of some great Australian pop and rock tunes. My wife especially liked "Lonely Won't Leave Me Alone" by the country duo The Arlenes … www.thearlenes.com ... )
The film's message and satisfying happy ending? We can't conquer death, but we can learn to live with it if we look both ways: be cautious and healthy, take risks and be happy.
DVD Extras: An obligatory stills gallery is joined by informative interviews from writer-director Watt and star Clarke. Watt explains her journey from painter to animator to filmmaker as her stories got more and more difficult to tell in the restrictive mediums. In a big difference from Crash's talkative, howling, angry characters, Watt also explains how her film employs a pair of silent grievers — a sudden widow and a train conductor — at its core.
Brendan Howard
 Movie Reviews: Australian Films
read our Latest Movie Reviews
Movie Reviews since 2012
|
|
