Road to Nhill

I'm saddened to hear negative comments on this beautiful ensemble piece by an amazing assemblage of senior citizen actors and others not so old. I doubt that many beyond Australia will get their hands on a copy as it's rare even on home ground. You definitely need an eye for subtle hints at all the subtexts in this investigation of a minor crisis in the life of a sleepy town in the middle of nowhere.

I just loved the subtle manipulation of the situation by the bachelor farmer to try and get a foot in the door for a formal courtship of one of the lady bowlers involved in the accident - and her squirming to try and get out of it without offending the poor lummox.

His neighbour the pig farmer is too interested in perching like a crow on a fence watching the inept antics of the various emergency services crews around the 'wreck' to actually do the one useful thing he's been asked to - and take one of the old dears in to the hospital for a check-up.

There are so many apparent inconsequentialities which weigh heavy on the minds of these townsfolk that you don't wonder at all that they should have ended up where they are. It's all as God intended.

My only niggle is in the rather peculiar choice of gamelan music (abruptly cut off for God's voice-over) in the opening credits. All else is quite consistent with the setting and mood of the play.

With genuine crap out there scoring mid-60s (pick any Jet Li film, most Hollywood action-thrillers or any American gross-out teen comedy, for example), I suppose it's only academic that a film of this subtle quality would score so low. Okay, the guys on THE MOVIE SHOW may have jumped the gun when they said it was "far superior" to THE CASTLE, but still, it's an amusing, entertaining comedy based on events which could have happened - but never did - in a small town beyond the black stump. I was going to say "woop woop" but that was another film. I'd give it 7/10 - the climax could have been a little better put-together, but all in all, it's a film which definitely grew on me.

I loved this movie because I grew up in a country town not far from Nhill.

The story starts out with 4 friends who have a car accident on the way to lawn bowls. The town responds with the usual, "she'll be right, mate" attitude that I remember with fond affection.

The acting is brilliant as it captures the various characters that we all remember.

"The road to Nhill" is a beautifully shot and acted piece of Australian cinema. But it is not everyone's cup of tea. My friend who grew up in Nhill said it reminded him of all the reasons he moved to the city.

Life in an Australian town starts slow and by afternoon tea time comes to a complete stop. Loved it!

This films quietly shouts the word 'laconic'.

A small country town where nothing much happens, and this film takes us right along with the 'action'...except the action is in slow motion and the characterisations, are slowly and beautifully formed.

If you're not in a hurry for a good time, and really DO enjoy seeing paint dry...this is for you.

I like watching paint dry. The colour darkens and the true character emerges.

when i saw this movie at the cinema with my family i nearly fell asleep it was so bad! i could never sit through it again ever. its a terrible movie that should be taken off the shelves.