The Xrossing

This riveting locally shot film revolves around the repercussions of the murder of a young girl in the Swan Valley. Three teenage boys decide that a quiet Noongar man Black Bobby (Kelton Pell), who keeps to himself, is the perpetrator. Riding their bikes through the bush and armed with spray cans, they set off a chain of events that cumulate in a shocking ending.

This film is not a murder mystery that tries to find a murderer, though there are hints dropped if you watch the flashbacks carefully. It is a drama about prejudice, violence, ignorance, revenge and redemption. At its heart are several multi-dimensional characters whose decisions charge the directions of their lives forever.

Unlike his mates Shane (Jacob O'Neill) and Angus (Jamie Smith), Chris (Luke Morgan) manages to break the cycle of prejudice and violence and veer from the path of toxic masculinity. He is strong enough to resist his peers and intelligent enough make amends for injustice with the support of girlfriend Abbey (Georgia Eyers).

It is distressing to watch less enlightened characters get caught up in the whirlpool of hate and eventually self-destruction. Mihaljevich is absolutely mesmerising as Shane's half brother and local drug lord Phoenix as he careers towards an inevitable crisis.

Former high school drama teacher Mihaljevich, who lives in Swan View, has already received awards for his low budget drama (below $250,000) - winning best film in the micro-budget category at the Toronto Independent Film Festival. This is not a brilliant Western Australian film - it is a brilliant film for the world stage.

The Xrossing in Review

I had the privilege of seeing The Xrossing twice and on both occasions I was deeply moved by both the thought provoking story and the outstanding performances of the cast. This is a significant film for our times and I believe will be well received internationally.

The opening scenes introduce the audience to a landscape familiar to Perth residents, revealing the unique beauty of the eastern metropolitan bushland and historical landmarks . Nestled within the story begins. A murder of a young girl has the community talking and reactive opinions are quickly being formed. Meeting the three young characters, you are quickly drawn into their situation as they process what has happened to their friend and how they deal with this new reality.

But there is so much more to this film. This story will take you back to when our youthful personas emerged to meet life's journey and remember how with only a pocket full of experience, we navigated our Xrossings with the people and circumstances that awaited us.

This is a must see film so make sure you experience The Xrossing for yourself.

I'm still processing this outstanding film... I literally walked out of the theatre speechless... in a good way! Beautifully shot showcasing our stunning corner of the world, The Xrossing certainly lived up to all the hype. The acting, production and script were absolutely flawless, not at all reflective of its limited production budget. Though very confronting at times, the beauty of the cinematography coupled with the acting and the script, resulted in a very thought provoking film with an important message.

An incredible achievement for all of those involved in producing this superb film. Highly recommend!

Directed by Steven J. Mihaljevich, The Xrossing is a compelling, moving and uniquely Western Australian film.

Opening with hazy, suburban scenery and the sweeping bushland of Swan View, the scene reveals the brooding murder of a young girl, Tracey Myers. Surrounded in mystery, her death begins to unravel loose ends. Without revealing too much, the ensuing chaos and multiple story arcs climaxing together will have you on the edge of your seat.

For those who have the pleasure of experiencing this film in all its glory, it's none other than a beautiful reminder of how human connection remains a central driving force, no matter the story.

What a great Aussie film. Sad and hopeful at the same time.