Two of Australia’s most widely recognised and respected film critics are undoubtedly David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz. Both have a long-standing, often symbiotic, relationship with the Australian film industry, and both are as supportive as they are critical towards any new release film produced by our nation. Like most others with an interest in quality adult cinema, it is with great pleasure that I tune into their weekly film review TV show, ‘At The Movies‘. Mostly I agree with their opinions. However, while discussing the 2008 Australian film, ‘Ten Empty‘, a bemused David pondered, “what audience the film is targeting?” Margaret hummed in agreement. This comment has been floating around in my head whenever I think about the state of the Australian film industry.
Having seen, and really enjoyed “Ten Empty”, I struggled to understand this somewhat dismissive remark from such highly influential reviewers. The film is basically a winter version of the comparatively sun-tanned Australian production ‘The Black Balloon‘ (a film which was both critically and commercially well received). Both films centre around the son in a disadvantaged family and his journey to find his position within the family. The films are thematically similar, though the tone is much bleaker and more realistic in ‘Ten Empty‘. Both are very powerful films, and both are superb representations of Australian filmmakers exploring meaningful social realism.
What audience does it target? My immediate reaction was “anyone and everyone”. Whether or not you personally relate to the situations in the film, there is still a great deal of empathy one can gain through the shared experiences of others – on and/or off screen. However, I understand where David and Margaret were coming from: both are well aware of the dire state of the general public’s attitude towards Australian films. Over the last 10 years an average of just 4.3% of box office revenue in Australia has come from Australian films. American films swallow up a greedy 82%.
Should this mean that we gear our movies towards a more US-centric audience? Well, they would probably be more profitable (‘The Black Balloon‘ focused its marketing campaign around its tabloid magazine co-star, Gemma Ward), but would they remain an honest and credible reflection of Australian culture and values? (Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Australia‘, for all its joy and heart, is still very much tailored to an American mythology of Australian life).
And since when does the notion of profitability act as any kind of barometer of the success or relevance of a film? That in itself is an Imperialist American theology. Discussing his most recent film, 2007’s ‘The Diving Bell & The Butterfly‘, artist/director Julian Schnabel scoffed at the question of how profitable the film would be: “I make money from selling my paintings, I don’t expect to make any money from my films, I make them because they are stories I want to tell”. If one were to judge the success of “The Diving Bell & The Butterfly” by how it affected people, then it wouldn’t be off the mark to label it as one of the most successful films ever made. The film, based on the real-life story of a man with a severe disability conveying his memoirs to a nurse, was screened in hundreds of hospitals around Europe, inspiring patients who were uplifted by the brave and determined tale.
Filmmaking coming from this ethos – of giving rather than taking – is what makes cinema, as an art form, so wonderful. “Film should act as a mirror to society, it should make people think”, declared Greek director Costa Gavros. Australian cinema has a long, proud history of making good quality Australian stories. Whilst the general public’s apathy towards our industry is an issue that needs to be addressed, I don’t think that compromising to cater for their current tastes is in any way helpful.
Finally, a quote from James Jupp (author of ‘From White Australia To Woomera, The Story Of Australian Immigration’), which I believe can be aptly applied to the future of the Australian film industry - “I accept that politicians must work within limits set by public opinion. But I do not accept that majority opinion is always right. Changing public opinion is a necessary feature of democracy and, in this area, often essential”.
Article written by Ryan Nance.
Ryan’s passion for good adult cinema has really blossomed, and shows no sign of waning. Check out some of his other reviews right here.