Categories: cinema, culture, sydney
Date: 03 August 2009 08:58:22
I've seen two movies of late: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Cedar Boys.
Harry Potter was an enjoyable movie: I as going to say 'fun' but that does not quite seem right given the darkness of it. But, it was wonderful to see Harry, Ron and Hermione growing up, and entering those difficult teenage years of love. I, as always, was impressed by the special effects and the transformation of a complex and complicated book onto the screen. Looking forward to the next one.
Cedar Boys, a look at the lives of Lebanese Australians in Sydney's west, was anything but escapist fantasy: a hard-hitting look that pulled no punches while looking at what happens when you, typecast as trouble because you're young, male and Lebanese, step outside of your neighbourhood and familiar surroundings [and in a form of life imitating art, see this article where 2 of the stars were refused entry to a VIP-frequented bar]. The three protagonists, Tarek [a panel-beater with dreams], Nabil [a cleaner who seems steady and honest] and drug-dealing Sam, were so wondrously portrayed by 3 superb young actors [Les Chantery, Buddy Dannoun, Waddah Sari] that, after some amazing in-depth explorations of their world, I was drawn into their lives.
The story, and its moral of leaving your familiar surrounds and how others see [and use] you, ramps up when Tarek meets an Anglo Eastern Suburbs [rich area of Sydney] girl which then leads him, and Nabil, into a world of drugs and crime with the aim of getting money quickly. The characters, the 3 main ones in particular, are all exceptionally well-rounded individuals: these are 'real people' -- not stereotypes or over-the-top caricatures. And add in superb and clever writing [while you can see glimpses of a major altercation and crash from their high life coming, I was surprised at the twists and turns on the way there], great direction and cinematography, and an in-your-face soundtrack [not entirely my sort of music: but this was not a film about me], and you have 100 or so minutes where I was glued to my chair: utterly and absorbed in the action unfolding before my eyes. And it is constant action: and a very tough look at wanting to be accepted by a culture that excludes you or expects you to fit a gross stereotype; and where those in that culture only want you so long as you can give them what they want.
A tough movie: not for everyone by any means. But for me it is great to see a portrayal of 'real' Australians, not solely the Home and Away or Neighbours fare which is often how Australia is seen: and simply great to see young talent, actors and crew [this was Seerhat Caradee's [writer/director/co-producer] debut feature film], involved in such a unique and original film too. May their careers flourish, for I think these are exceptionally talented people: and may movies exploring the lives of young people, particularly those from other cultures, continue to be told: for we are a nation of migrants -- and all stories of all people should be told. And I hope this movie does make it outside Australia's borders; while the cul-de-sac or beach life of soaps may be one life, for me far too often non-Anglo stories are not told -- and I think that makes us, and I add myself to the top of that list, all culturally poorer, and perhaps a bit ignorant too.