If you've ever wished that you could eavesdrop on a group of girls at a pub, then Occasional Coarse Language is for you, especially if the conversation is this funny.
Penis size, blow jobs, life's ambitions and latest boyfriends are dominant, with a good smattering of bitchiness not far beneath the surface. But that's only one scene in an Australian film which is lively, quick and often very amusing.
Min (Sara Browne) has been dumped, kicked out of home and fired all in one week. Occasional Coarse Language is a film about Min's makeover.
She's plain, plump, addicted to nicotine, not too special and after being dumped by her girlfriend she then shares a house with David who's screwing about seven different girls a week. "What's eating you anyway" he says. "No one, that's the problem," she sulks.
Her best friend Jaz (Astrid Grant) is full of good advice but has her own dilemmas. Her boyfriend has his own version of that story!
The girls still hang out occasionally with other old girl friends, all in their early twenties, who at school used to hide in the toilets together smoking. In some ways that's about all they have in common, although they are all fans of Melrose and all that goes with their favourite women's mags.
Made on a wing and a prayer by 31 year old Brad Hayward and starring newcomers, this film is fresh, fast and not too rough at all. Hayward uses a stop start editing technique engagingly which must have saved a fair bit of editing time and which perfectly matches the pace of the film.
Hayward also wrote the film over a long weekend! I'd expect Brad Hayward to be considering plenty of further offers. The female leads Sara Browne and Astrid Grant are both very strong.
Cairns viewers may also remember Shannon Faith when she played the lead in Dags some years ago for the Cairns Little Theatre. She plays Monica in Occasional Coarse Language, the girl who steals Min's boyfriend! It's great to see talented Cairns people on the big screen!
