Healing

This movie's poor performance at the box office, despite publicity, reveals more about the overall quality of Australian cinema audiences than it does about the country's film industry. Fine acting and cinematography back up a screenplay and score of rare quality, marrying human and environmental rehabilitation so effectively that the overall effect is extremely moving without mawkish corn. Paradoxically, this movie might do better in the US than here if properly promoted, considering Australian audiences' apparent liking for American sentimental crap. Hugo Weaving and Don Hany deliver in spades, Hany especially surpassing any previous outings of his... all quite competent if not memorable. The supporting cast doesn't let them down.

Right from the very first scene I knew this was going to be a special type of prison film. Mother nature in all her glory, a bird of prey elegantly gliding through the air in pursuit of its target, then bam! Trapped in a fence, cut to a prison van, a prisoner menacingly staring down a frightened young man, himself trapped, but a wise old bird of years and years of incarceration experience sidles up alongside the youngster, about to take him under his protective wing. The healing of the title begins, for man, boy and creatures, a metaphor heavy narrative that thankfully is beautifully written and portrayed.

Directed by Craig Monahan, who also co-writes the screenplay with Alison Nisselle, this Australian film stars Hugo Weaving, Don Hany, Xavier Samuel and Mark Leonard Winter. Music is by David Hirschfelder and cinematography by Andrew Lesnie. Story follows a small group of prisoners working in a penal system approved rehabilitation of injured birds of prey programme. But outside of this harmonious circle lay differing problems, bully boy cons trying to muscle in with their poison, and then there is serrated family ties outside the prison gates that seem impossible to be healed...

Throughout the pic there are broken beings, inmates, creatures and wardens, all in need of redemption or a restart in life. There's a lot going in the story as such, but it all makes for a gratifying whole because the makers have taken their time to build the characters. Tech credits are excellent, with the performances of the lead actors leading from the front. Weaving giving high end professionalism as the emotionally troubled main guard is something of a given, while Samuel (The Loved Ones) looks like he is about to build himself a worthwhile career.

The film, however, in human form belongs to Hany, who gets the plum role of Iranian Viktor Khadem, the old lag who is the centre of the story. His accent sometimes sounds more South African than Iranian, but his ability to say so much with pained visual ticks and a becalmed delivery of crucial dialogue really cements the heart of the story's worth.

Elsewhere, Lesnie's wide angled photography does justice to the surroundings when the story goes outside of the prison walls into the outback, and of course the grace of the birds is given appropriate splendour. Which leads to bird trainer Andrew Payne, who along with editor Suresh Ayya, deserves a mighty pat on the back for ensuring that Healing is beating a true heart from all standpoints.

This is a lovely film waiting to be discovered by grown ups who are able to get involved with the thematic beats of the story and accept its deliberate pacing in the process. 8/10

Three friends and I went to see Healing yesterday and we all walked out feeling that this was one of the very best movies we've seen in a long time and we're wondering WHY isn't this movie being shouted about from the rooftops??? Until stumbling upon it whilst looking for info on another movie, I hadn't heard a thing about it. The cinematography is beautiful, the writing wonderful and all the actors fabulous - Don Hany is outstanding and I think overseas may beckon him after this.Jane Menelaus is so comfortable and convincing with the birds that I can't believe she doesn't do this for a living. I honestly can't find a fault with this movie. It takes the time to build the characters and it's so refreshing not to be bashed over the head with 'over the top evil villains'. The cinematography stunningly caught the absolute essence of the Aussie outback and the birds. I can't wait to go and see it again and introduce some other friends to this wonderful movie.

A gentle, heart warming story which celebrates the amazing raptors we are privileged to have in Australia. Combined with this is a well constructed story, fine Aussie acting and simply stunning camera work. The birds steal the show, naturally, but Don and Hugo and Tony bring excellent performances to craft another fine local movie.

Why in the world do Australian audiences fail to turn out for first rate drama and settle for comic book remakes or simplistic American dreck?

This movie is simply stunning and should have had a much larger audience here in its home country. The scenery certainly sums up the sparse beauty of Victoria. And Hany and Weaving both give wonderfully rich and subtle performances.

The subject matter is fascinating. This is NOT some grubby prison movie -- it's a story of an innovative rehabilitation methodology. Well done!!!