Look Both Ways

Every couple of years the quality of our films seems to peak then decline. For every Muriel's Wedding or Lantana there are four films like The Nugget or Strange Bedfellows. Perhaps it's our complete saturation of American culture. Our expectations are such that everything we see must conform to the mold of American T.V. or film. 'Look Both Ways' is another attempt to fly in the face of this all-consuming wave, one that grows steadily bigger. The ability to tell distinctly Australian stories, whether they be set in suburbia or outback, period or contemporary, is something that should be encouraged and supported. This is not a U.S bashing exercise. Or a dig at the media in this country. I merely want to state that it is good to see courage taken by Australian film makers and financiers by making this film. We will never be as big as Hollywood, and we shouldn't try to be. National cinema, no matter what country it is, exists to enhance and enrich the culture that it comes from. We should be happy that this film has been made, because it gives hope for the future, until the media proclaims that our industry has declined again.

Getting to the film, I feel that it gives a feeling of hope in the face of uncertainty and fear. The main characters have to deal with things that creep up on us without warning, whether it be the death of a loved one, or a freight train accident, or the first unsure steps in a developing relationship. The film focuses on how these events can cripple our daily lives, sending us into muddled states of grief and fear. It also makes us treasure what we have. this film is a gem, one that deserves to have a wide viewer ship, just so that the world can see what we are capable of.

I concur with Mia-38's comment. This is an absorbing film, tastefully executed and rewarding to watch. Death is a daily topic in all media, part of which is shown in the film by the short animated sequences. This film takes us to what happens in our lives before that final event, death. One question raised is whether a particular death is accidental or possibly suicide. It has often been said that movies are a reactive medium. This film is sparse in dialog and much is told through expressions of some really fine acting. I believe this film will become a classic with time and be honored by many critics who on review will begin to appreciate the finesse and delicate technique of its creator. Please see this film and in so doing you will support a courageous distributor and a talented movie maker. Jim

What a wonderful life-affirming film. Happy, sad, so bloody real. Brilliant filming, animation and first class performances. It is good to be truly moved by a film without feeling like you have been manipulated, to see good acting without any 'star performances' overwhelming the whole thing, and to find yourself talking and thinking about it for days afterward with delight. This has re-ignited my belief in the strength of Australian filmmakers. I fervently hope that Sara (who gets a particularly moving performance from her husband in this movie), goes on to make more feature length movies. (Apparently her previous films have all been animated shorts). She has that great ability to tell a universal human story with an artists eye, through all those perfect little details of scenery, set, facial expression, props - all memorably enhanced by her unusual touch in using animation to convey thoughts and emotions. Go see it.

I don't give it a 10, because the style is not totally agreeable to me (I'm too old). But this film was a shocking surprise for all its richness. When my friend said "Australian film", I immediately said, "Yes, it's been too long since I've seen one. I always like their films".

I had recently watched the older American film , Grand Canyon, and found apt comparisons. But here's what my companion and I loved about "Look Both Ways" - the characters were real, the scenery real, the main topic (death) made us squirm, but we recognized the reality that we would rather avoid. THe acting was superb, I especially believed Justine Clark as Meryl - her face IS the person who conjures those troubling cartoons. The film, the actors, the scenery was so unpretentious that we could believe it all. The cartoon flashes are peculiar, but we loved the artwork - can we buy copies? Loved the soundtrack too.

Grand Canyon, by contrast, is too clearly a story by a screenwriter, it has the production values of Hollywood (the better side of Hollywood, but still slick), it has well-known, attractive and very good actors. The story flows so well ... but you KNOW you're watching a fictional story that is acted and produced by world class talent. In other words, you cannot mistake it for reality.

This beautiful film is possibly one of the best Australian Films in the past few years. The performances of William McInnis, Justine Clarke and Anthony Hayes are real convincing portrayal of characters trapped in a moment in time. The delicate performance of McInnis as the cancer suffering Nick, brings home the real feelings of disbelief, fear and anger that a person has when they are told for the first time that they have the "C" word. The blend of film and animation is done brilliantly. The tragedy for writer / director Sarah Watt has come with her own diagnosis after the film wrapped - the Australian Film going audiences such as myself wishes her a speedy recovery so she can continue to provide us with powerful pieces of cinema such as "Look Both Ways".