The theme of a new Australian thriller is topical: a family torn apart by crystal meth addiction. But the approach by directors Tristan Barr and Michael Gosden??? for Watch The Sunset is innovative.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They have made it as a one-shot film - a bold form pioneered when Alfred Hitchcock simulated a long, continuous shot for Rope in 1948; followed up in recent years by Boxing Day, Fish & Cat and Victoria; and again for the Oscar-winning Birdman.
Watch The Sunset follows an ex-bikie (Barr) who tries to reunite his broken family as he deals with addiction. Gosden also features in a little-known cast that includes Chelsea Zeller???, Annabelle Williamson and Zia Zantis-Vinycomb.
Shot in Kerang in northern Victoria, it will have its world premiere at the Revelation Perth International Film Festival next month. "The one-shot concept of our film allows the viewers to observe the harsh reality of this regional problem on an intimate and raw level," Barr says.
New movie for breakout star of Patti Cake$
The little-known Australian actress who became the breakout star of the hit drama Patti Cake$ at Sundance, Danielle Macdonald, has been cast in a new American film opposite Jennifer Aniston???. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Macdonald will star in comic drama Dumplin' for director Anne Fletcher (The Proposal, Hot Pursuit).
It's based on a young adult novel that follows an outspoken, plus-sized teen and obsessive Dolly Parton fan named "Dumplin'" by her former beauty queen mother (Aniston). To upset her mother, Dumplin' signs up for a small-town beauty pageant and, with the help of a group of social outcasts from her school, redefines its traditions. Aniston is also executive producing the film.
A virtual unknown from Sydney's northern beaches, Macdonald was living in Hollywood when she was cast as a New Jersey rapper in Patti Cake$. It has its Australian premiere at Sydney Film Festival on Friday before a cinema release in September.
Mumbai thriller wins two awards in California
It's virtually unknown in Australia so far but the Hotel Mumbai terrorist attack thriller One Less God has picked up two prizes from its world premiere at a Los Angeles film festival.
Lliam Worthington's film, which follows the hostages and terrorists over the three-day siege at Taj Mahal Hotel, won both the industry choice and grand jury awards at the Dances With Films festival - the first film to win the two top prizes in the festival's 20-year history.
"The tension and thriller elements played strongly," producer Maren Smith says, with the audience "blown away by the depth of the ensemble Aussie talent".
The filmmakers are in discussions with Australian distributors over the film's release. Its little-known cast includes Joseph Mahler Taylor, Mihika Rao and Kabir Singh.
One Less God is one of two Australian thrillers on the Mumbai terrorist attacks heading for cinemas. Anthony Maras' much bigger-budget Hotel Mumbai stars Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, India's Anupam Kher???, Jason Isaacs and Nazanin Boniadi???.
Twitter @gmaddox
