The F.J. Holden

When Australian films are good, they're very very good, but when they're bad they're rotten. F.J Holden is, I think, one of the worst Aussie films I've seen. It's unfortunate because it has all the ingredients of a good film, and frankly, most Australian films fall flat on their faces due to either trying to be too intellectual or too quirky. F.J Holden has the romantic entanglements of a love story, of racial friction (not to mention friction with the law), but most of all, a story of young people caught between their own wishes, and the wants of their elders. It's sad to see such factors handled so slipshod, but as Hitchcock said, "Drama is life with the dull bits left out", and with this movie, the producers left in what should have been left out! On a more positive note, this is one of Sigrid Thornton's first movies, it's a pity we didn't see a little more of her in the film, than a lot of obviously fine actors trying to make something of this very pulpy story.

P.S I grew up in the area this film was made (Panania), and I recognized many of the locations, locations that could have (with a decent story) been utilized better. F.J Holden is one of those films you see, that takes forever to get going, and once it gets going, it goes nowhere.

This film is essential for anyone who wants to experience the glory days of Aus culture. There is very little plot, but it basically follows the adventures of a guy called Kev, who goes out with a girl called Anne. He fixes up his car (guess what model?), goes drag racing, drives around with his mate Bob, gets drunk, and has excruciatingly bad conversations with his parents.

It also includes a scene where you watch Kev and Bob drink an entire slab of beer, with the actors obviously getting drunker and drunker as they slur and forget their lines.

It's on TV every so often. Don't miss it. Tape it, and show it to all your friends. Bring it out at parties. Keeping this film to yourself is a crime!

I think we've all seen movies like this. "The F.J Holden" sees two suburban adolescents - Kevin and Bob - on their way to becoming adults. They spend their days working unpromisingly in wrecking yards with older greasers. When they don't work they prowl the streets for girls and spend their spare time "hotting up" old cars. Filmed on 16mm in Sydney's West, the low-budgeting of the movie certainly does it few favors. I suppose it is designed to be a social or class commentary on the youth of Australia, but the narrative and direction does little to sustain much interest.

The acting is dodgy (both the main actors had little experience), the storyline pretty boring, the scenery bland.

I grew up in this part of sydney, and movies showing Australian suburbia were rare, so this was reasonably popular as it showed a slice of life of Australia - which we never saw on the big screen.

I remember Australians growing up in the time would refer to it, and it was pretty famous.

But its overall, pretty bad. Bad acting, plot is very basic and not particularly interesting - but it does show what life was like at the time pretty well, so its of value as a historical/social piece. Even a bit of casual racism played off as a joke!

Parts of it are so bad they are funny, and the two actors, instead of acting drunk, actually *really* get drunk in one scene, and can barely say their lines.

Its a really bad Aussie film, but yes, of interest to people who grew up in that time, or that part of Sydney.

This is an excellent film. It deserves a lot more respect than it gets. The story of two shady young guys being shady is not much of a plot. However what this film has in spades is a real sense of place. Watching the film (slow and mundane as it seems) it really feels like you are becoming a part of the world of the characters involved.

Furthermore the film seems to touch upon various issues like relationships between the young (a la Puberty Blues a few years later), and the realities of Australian suburbia. There is a fair bit going on here than just the hi-jinx of Kev, Bob, and Anne. Even with these characters you can feel some sort of sympathy (well....at least with Kev and Anne).

There are some other reasons to recommend the film. Spot Prisoner's 'Freak'. Kev's dad is great as a straight talking no nonsense bloke. The cars are great (tho wot's wrong with Valiants. Spot the 'new immigrant' driving one) and some of the dialogue is awesome (Mate.....you're my mate, the biggest dick in Bankstown etc).

This film is all class in a completely unclassy way.