Summer Coda

It has been commonly assumed within the local film industry (and exacerbated by extensive media coverage) that Australian audiences aren’t too fussed about Australian films. Too depressing, opines one school of thought. Too Australian, posits another. And purely on box office evidence, on cinema takings and patrons on seats, it would appear that both of the above statements are right. Indeed, as a film-producing nation, for too long we have been known for producing maudlin high-brow fare (think Beautiful Kate, Last Ride and Bright Star, as recent examples) and larrikin comedies (again, of late see Subdivision, Charlie & Boots and Prime Mover), with little in between. Of course, those well-versed on the subject are aware that this generalisation is far from an accurate reflection of the state of Australian features, however to the broader public sadly the perception is the reality.

Thankfully, in recent years the mindset of the masses has begun to catch up with the actuality within the industry, with Samson And Delilah, Mao’s Last Dancer, Bran Nue Dae and Animal Kingdom faring well with viewers and reviewers alike. Similarly, movies that may have traditionally garnered criticism for falling into the above-mentioned categories (Balibo, The Waiting City, The Tree) have found their niche with audiences, just as genre pieces (Daybreakers, Tomorrow When The War Began, The Loved Ones) have begun to cultivate new target markets. The latest Australian release – Richard Gray’s debut feature Summer Coda – continues in this vein, in a perfect example of the type of film that this nation is, has been and should be making. Plaintive and piquant, Australian and unique, and gentle and genuine, the sweet and subtle offering starring Rachael Taylor and Alex Dimitriades is a sure-fire local hit.

With a resonant orchestral score and pithy soundtrack signalling the start of something special, Summer Coda opens with Heidi (Taylor, Cedar Boys) playing the violin with passion. Next we glimpse her desperately rushing from her Reno, Nevada home to Australia, and then making her way from Melbourne to Mildura by any means possible, a satchel and a worn instrument case in tow. After a midnight visit to see a friend (Jacki Weaver, Three Blind Mice), Heidi takes to the highway, hitchhiking her way through the Australian outback for a rendezvous with the family she’s never known. When a passing farmer Michael (Dimitriades, Wog Boy 2: Kings Of Mykonos) offers a lift to her destination, the seeds of friendship are planted, blooming over shared experiences, growing in the aftermath of a teary reunion (involving Little Fish‘s Susie Porter and South Solitary‘s Reef Ireland), and becoming firmly established during a romanticised summer stint fruit picking in the shadow of a golden orange grove.

Despite the criticism oft received by local efforts, and irrespective of ticket sales and funding difficulties, Australian filmmakers continue to bring great local stories to the big screen. Summer Coda is no exception, showcasing our sunburned and scenic country with skill and style, in a romantic comedy road movie filled with love, lamentations and laughter. The cast is excellent (particularly Dimitriades, making the most of his rare turn in a leading role, and Taylor, proving her talents extend beyond the surface), the script well-paced (shifting in tone from slow and sparse to fast and fresh throughout the course of the film), cinematography picturesque and direction deliberately crafted, in an exceptional achievement from the crew of mostly first-timers. An ambitious offering from all involved, and one let down only by length, Summer Coda is a naturalistic and melancholic journey through the inferred over the explicit, a journey that pays off handsomely despite of – or perhaps augmented by – a distinct sense of character, internationally relevant, but specific to the Australian experience.

Summer Coda opens in selected cinemas nationwide on October 21, 2010, with advance screenings between October 15 – 17.

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Tags: Australia, Australian film, comedy, drama, films, movies, road movie, romance, Summer Coda