The Final Winter

One of the best sport themed movies ever made, especially for the budget. In fact, probably better for the low budget as it means the focus is purely only the script and some good acting. Not fantastic acting, but most of the actors aren't really actors. hats off to Matt Nable for doing a great job in his first ever acting role, brining his own script to life with passion. There's only one sport scene in it, at the very beginning, and the rest of the film is a touching look at old school sportsmen as times changed and loyalty is being bought by big money investors. Relevant to fans of any sports, especially those over 30. Worth watching.

With great expectations I bought my ticket for this last Friday, and while it wasn't rugby league's answer to The Club in the manner I'd been hoping for, the rewards in quality of characterisation and the film's theme of corporate power eroding the bonds of community and family and the examination of what it means to be a man more than make up for it. A quality debut performance from Matt Nable ably supported by Raelee Hill as the wife holding Grub's family together lead the way, with good support from Nathaniel Dean as the heir apparent to the old lion's crown. Matt Johns rises to a level well beyond the Footy Show's ouevre, the pillow fitted unnecessarily under his shirt with the aim of giving him the beer-stained look of coaches of yore notwithstanding. There's a few vague references to ethereal concepts of "the game" that don't quite sit true and the cry for the loss of league's golden era doesn't blend fully with the other elements of the story; John Jarratt's corporate figure intent on bringing the old footballer's era to an end is an almost comedic caricature, but the scenes bringing Nable's Grub and his brother Billy, whose star is in the ascendant with the Winfield Cup and associated riches just around the corner, together in conflict acquit Nable's writing well. I couldn't go further without mentioning Kate Mulvaney's gems of support as Kate, doling out advice over the bar as the mother some of these lonely boys never had. As with so many sports movies the theme is loss, introspection and redemption, but its qualities are best appreciated from a human point of view with sport as a background and conduit for the story. A high quality debut effort, with a soundtrack of summery Aussie nostalgia and cameos from a selection of familiar players and coaches of yesteryear when smoking on the reserves bench and beers after training were part of the fabric of Australian sporting life certain to bring a smile.

The Final Winter (2007), directed by Brian Andrews and Jane Forrest, is a powerful and raw Australian drama that centers on the world of rugby league in the 1980s, a time of significant change for the sport. The film is a heartfelt ode to the old-school values of the game, portraying the struggles of a veteran player grappling with the shifting dynamics of professional rugby.

**Plot and Structure** The story follows Mick "Grub" Henderson (Matt Nable, who also co-wrote the script), a tough-as-nails rugby league player who is fiercely loyal to his team and the traditional ethos of the sport. As the game begins to change, moving toward commercialization and professionalism, Mick finds himself at odds with the direction the game is heading, as well as with the people around him. The film explores themes of loyalty, pride, and identity as Mick faces his own personal and professional crossroads.

The Final Winter is structured like a character study, focusing heavily on Mick's inner turmoil as he struggles to adapt to a changing world. The film's pacing is deliberate, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the emotional depth of the story while also showcasing the brutal physicality of rugby league.

**Performance and Emotional Depth** Matt Nable delivers a standout performance as Mick Henderson, portraying the character's toughness, vulnerability, and inner conflict with authenticity and intensity. Nable's depiction of a man caught between his love for the game and the harsh realities of the modern world is gripping, making Mick a complex and sympathetic figure. His physical presence on the field contrasts sharply with the emotional battles he faces off the field, giving the film an added layer of depth.

The supporting cast, including Nathaniel Dean and John Jarratt, provide solid performances that flesh out the rugby league community and those closest to Mick. Their interactions bring to life the camaraderie and tension that define both the sport and the relationships within it.

**Themes and Tone** At its core, The Final Winter is a film about change, and the personal cost of holding on to traditions in the face of a rapidly modernizing world. It delves into the loss of identity that many athletes, and by extension fans, experience when their sport transforms from a gritty, working-class passion into a professional, commercialized enterprise.

The film also touches on broader themes of masculinity, pride, and the sacrifices that come with dedicating one's life to a physically punishing sport. Through Mick's character, the movie explores what happens when the values and identity tied to a beloved game are challenged, forcing tough choices about loyalty and legacy.

**Direction and Visuals** The direction by Andrews and Forrest emphasizes the harshness of rugby league, both on the field and in the lives of the players. The film captures the brutal, physical nature of the game, with its bone-crunching tackles and raw physicality, while also highlighting the emotional weight of Mick's struggles. The cinematography is gritty and grounded, reflecting the rough, working-class world in which the characters exist.

The use of period-appropriate settings and costumes helps to evoke the sense of the 1980s, a time when rugby league was beginning to move from its grassroots origins toward a more commercial future. The authenticity of the era enhances the film's atmosphere, drawing the audience into the tension between tradition and progress.

**Conclusion** The Final Winter is a gritty, emotionally charged film that captures the essence of rugby league and the personal battles that come with a changing sport. With a strong central performance by Matt Nable and a focus on character-driven storytelling, the film offers a compelling look at the human side of professional sports. It's a must-watch for rugby league fans, but its themes of loyalty, identity, and change make it a universally resonant story.

Rating: 7.5/10 A raw and heartfelt portrayal of rugby league and its impact on those who live for the game, The Final Winter delivers a powerful message about tradition, pride, and the challenges of adapting to a changing world. The film's authenticity and emotional depth make it a standout sports drama.

I arrived in Sydney in the mid-1980's as a dyed-in-the-wool rugby union man - ex-player, avid follower. But when I saw Sydney rugby league, hard, uncompromising, skillful, I fell in love with it. It was the era dominated by Parramatta and Canterbury. I'd heard about Newtown - foundation club and so on - but like a defeated Prime Minister, the club was gone, and no-one had much interest in it any more.

This movie goes back a few years, to the early 80's, when Newtown was struggling to survive. The old-school league men were being replaced by businessmen. It was an approach that didn't save Newtown, and a decade or so later, when greed and big business combined to create the Super League wars, it drove people away from the game in, well, droves, including me. From someone who used to immerse himself in the game from Friday to Sunday nights, my interest declined to where it is today - about zero.

But nevertheless, I found this movie intensely interesting, arousing some desire to perform further research into the Newtown era. Matt Nable, the Charles Bronson look-alike whom I've never heard of before, and the driving force behind the movie, has done a terrific job of creating a (mostly) polished product. Matthew Johns and Kate Mulvaney were good in supporting roles, but the standout for me was Raelee Hill. I'd seen her in a few TV roles, but in this, she was perfect. The kids were good too.

I wouldn't class this alongside, say, Romulus My Father, but it was still a surprisingly good Aussie movie.

I saw this movie yesterday evening where it had its premiere as part of the Sydney Film Festival. It was with much anticipation and a great deal of interest that I went to see this film, as there have been few Australian films centered around Rugby League (as opposed to AFL or Australian Rules Football - The Club, Australian Rules, The Great McCarthy etc). I was not disappointed. 'The Final Winter' is set in the early 1980's and follows the story of Grub, a working class married father of two who has been a loyal player for the Newtown Jets for many years. Grub finds himself at a crossroad in his life when the the teams administration decides that they do not need him and are moving towards a corporate style of management particularly in regard to their players. The film follows his journey, with the help of family and friends, as he reassesses his priorities and how he has defined himself. While the film is essentially a drama there are plenty of comic moments with cameos by some well known Rugby greats. And while the performances are excellent all round particular mention must go to Matt Nable's moving performance as Grub; and Raelee Hill as his wife Emma, her performance is astonishing in a film predominated by men. However it must be said that all the female characters in the film are strongly drawn or written, which is refreshing and gives the film a complexity and depth that other films, that center around all male sport teams, have lacked. There is a great soundtrack of early 80's Aussie songs to help recreate the era and set the mood. In particular 'Short Note' by Matt Finnish. At the end of the screening the audience was informed in a Q & A that the film has been picked up by Paramount. I am not surprised. This is a film which should get a wide release and deserves success. Recommended.