Rites of Passage

It took me a while to get into this film because it is so different to the adult-scripted movies I'm used to watching. But I found this to be an excellent 'off-the-cuff' film made by the adolescents who star in it, as they present facets of their varied lives in a very natural way. Handhelds, no forced acting or awkward forced scripting. A young man reluctantly came to its screening on his 17th birthday, yet by the end of the film he applauded enthusiastically and praised it and started a long conversation with the film makers. To me, one measure of success of any film is its ability to stimulate people of all ages to connect with others to share life experiences, turning them into meaningful conversations with each other, which builds community. I also enjoyed hearing about the life- changing impact that the making of this film had on its young makers and stars. A movie with heart, worth watching and sharing in conversation!

Outstanding film about young people - recommended viewing for anyone working with young people - it gives a detailed and moving insight into the way that young people think and what motivates them. Well made by young people who know their subject matter and how they want to portray it. This film was shown to a regional youth mentoring organisation with everyone providing quality feedback and appreciating the opportunity to gain an insight into the young people of today and how this knowledge can be used to help support them on their journey into adulthood. A sincere thank you to those involved in producing the film - and congratulations on producing such a great film.

This isn't a documentary but it is far from fiction. The eclectic style, using a dizzying array of film types and techniques takes a little getting used to but this film thrives on it. The story lines develop gradually and the cast, though inexperienced, show some remarkable talent. This film gives a close up, no holds barred insight to the lives of young people growing up in the suburbs. All the usual elements are here - young love, conflict, temptation, adults who don't understand,risk taking, sex, drugs the lot. The subject matter is dealt with honestly and there is no glossing over the tough lives these kids grow up in. Yet there is an incredible resilience, humour and definitely hope. I came away feeling a bit sad but at the same time full of admiration for the achievements of everyone involved.

"Directed and edited by Phillip Crawford, Rites of Passage is among the most remarkable and moving films produced in Australia in recent years. The freshness and spontaneity of the storytelling masks a disciplined cinematic technique in which seemingly random and disconnected episodes are brought together to form a satisfying whole.

It is an example of community filmmaking in the most literal sense. The film is essentially a co-operative enterprise involving scores of young people (and many older ones) in Wollongong's southern suburbs, all of whom have shared in some way in the creative process as performers, extras or production assistants. The result is a picture of day-to-day life among a cross-section of Wollongong's multicultural working-class community that has the unmistakable ring of authenticity. These youngsters aren't following some pre-ordained script or contrived narrative; they are revealing their own lives in a film charged with truth and raw humanity.

The success of Rites of Passage owes much to a set of ten principles to which all participants were bound. They are enunciated on-screen at the start of the film and essentially have to do with ideals of sharing and co-operation, a rejection of elitism and a sense of equality among all those taking part. The result could easily have been muddled and unfocused. But the naturalism and honesty of the performers goes well with the stories they tell – the pains of family breakup, a boy's love for his dog, the efforts of local teachers to instil in their charges an understanding of literature and a talent for self-expression. Visually striking in its mixture of colour and heavily-filtered black-and-white cinematography, film combines a sense of immediacy with a strange mood of timelessness. The final sequence is brilliantly suspenseful. Rites of Passage will not be easily forgotten."

Evan Williams, film critic, The Australian, (1981-2014)

genius ! Unscripted & so achieves poignant reality within each scene by using cinematographic techniques to grab the viewer and pull them into the life of each young person. Rites Of Passage is Well worth watching - after all, we've all been teenagers & these guys are no different. At it's simplest, Rites is Local kids growing through their circumstances. This movie has immense positive impact in the lives of the young actors - and this is beautifully conveyed to those who watch it. Weather you identify with a character, or just knew someone like them, Rites Of Passage will make you remember good times, & bad, awaken your empathy, and if you are anything like me, it will linger in your mind for years and drive you to question some of your own choices.