Saturn's Return

For many reasons deserves appreciation.

First, for splendid acting of Harold Hopkins. For great construction of story. For the chemistry between Damian Washe Howling and Joel Edgerton. For the cold portrait , precise in each detail, proposed by Tina Bursill. And, no doubts, for the end.

A man , living his life in intense manner is very sick.

His son, with his boyfriend, visits him. And the last days of venerable man are rich in impressions, crumbs of fall, a belly dance show and the reconciliation with himself.

A wise crafted film, scene by scene, offering, in fact, not exactly a story but a superb seed for few feelings, emotions and rediscover of the precious significance of family.

I saw this short film tonight at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras film festival. It was screening in competition with 7 other films. It was first runner-up as judged by the judges...but most importantly, it won the Audience Award. Great performances from all four leads. The film was touching, funny and sexy. It was interesting to see that it came from the same writer as the movie 'Head On'.

I caught this film on late-night cable as part of the gay focused programming that appears each June. There is a gay relationship at the center (Barney/Dimi), but that is only one of the orbits in this universe.

How one relates to family, lover, lover's family, self, and life and death are all important considerations of this short. Well done, very well acted.

The device of the two using a video camera spills over to the feel of the entire film. One experiences a real "slice of life" and is all the richer for it.

I would really like to see this make a DVD anthology of shorts. I would want it in my collection.