The Edge of the World

I had a chance to discover this great film from Australia, it is a great achievement in cinema, a pure hypnotic and poetic tale that takes place in a hotel in Australia at "The End of the world" great directing, great cinematography, perfect and wonderful cast and especially when a film is this good it starts with the writing. A film that takes place in the twenty first century but with the flavor of an Alfred Hitchock fifties film like Vertigo, a film with imagination and not heavy special effects, a film where you don't see the time pass by, a film that highly I recommend to anyone who loves movies. The Edge of the world is a love letter to Australia and to cinema. simply a perfect film with heart.

This "small" film from first time director Shaun Jefford, sets you up from the beginning for a tiny tale of deception, yet proceeds to turn you on your head with its epic, gangster driven, noir styled story of redemption, love, betrayal, and sweet, sweet sorrow. Falling in love with the characters is inevitable, and being seduced by it's textured, layered imagery... unavoidable.

Filled with style AND substance, Jefford weaves the past and the present with the craft, and eye, of a seasoned veteran, all the while, treating his audience with intelligence and to truth.

Life isn't always sweet. It is typically filled with regret. Especially when you live your life on the edge... the edge of the world.

The Edge of the World comes across like a meditation on the demons weʼve carried through our life, and the realization that what we thought we could bury will always find away to return if left unresolved.

While this film is a heavy drama, it is not entirely without humor. The two main character Benny and William seem to have a witty report that only a life time of friendship could forge, and a screwball soap opera weaves through the fabric of the film providing some much needed comic relief. All and all The Edge of the World is a great effort by Shaun Jefford and one to be met with anticipation of things to come.

Having seen this film at it's Premiere showing in the UK I am finally coming to share my views. The Edge of the World is a touching story of friendship and betrayal. The diverse ensemble cast lend themselves wonderfully to their roles making you believe in every action and plot revelation.

For a first time feature director, Shaun Jefford creates a beautiful film that looks and feels like he's been making these films for years. The film combines a great collaboration of cast and crew that clearly worked well together to produce a film worthy of widespread distribution.

The film matches itself to any modern cinematic tale and the future certainly looks bright for Jefford.

The Edge of the World is one of those rare films that came together through hard work, a rare string of talent, great innovation, and some lucky surprises many might equate to miracles. While the story might be a bit slow moving, and at moments hard to follow, it ties up nicely in the end, and leaves the audience with a beautiful, all be it haunting image that which answers the films greatest question.

This twisted story of greed, love, revenge, and the hope of redemption shows great promise for first time filmmaker Shaun Jefford, and I look forward to watching what he puts on the screen next. But the story of The Edge of the World isn't just what you see on the screen, but also how completely this film was made with limited resources it had available. The Edge of the World is one of those rare but remarkable stories that Hollywood tends to churn out from time to time, a man on a shoestring budget is able to show skills that far exceed the means by which he had to produce the product he was asked to deliver. Like Robert Rodriguez, Richard Linklater, or Steven Soderbergh, Shaun Jefford is proving he's the new whiz kid of the micro-budget film world. Taking a story that works in two separate decades, he crafts the film in a way that makes the 50's look like a cross between a golden aged classic and a dark lit noir, then bringing us into modern times, he hits us with a harsh blown florescent look which mirrors well with the institutional elements of the now aged cast of characters, and the general discomfort these characters are left with as they find their past coming back to haunt them with consequences that could be fatal.

The Edge of the World comes across like a meditation on the demons we've carried through our life, and the realization that what we thought we could bury will always find away to return if left unresolved.

While this film is a heavy drama, it is not entirely without humor. The two main character Benny and William seem to have a witty report that only a life time of friendship could forge, and a screwball soap opera weaves through the fabric of the film providing some much need comic relief. All and all The Edge of the World is a great effort by Shaun Jefford and one to be met with anticipation of things to come.

Kent Bernhard Film Critic and Reviewer