BLIND COMPANY
Posted by David Sullivan on May 31, 2010 in FILMS | 0 comments
Blind Company (Film)
Review by Erin Free | April 28, 2010 11:08 | FILMINK Magazine
Running Time: 98 Country: Australia
Director: Alkinos Tsilimidos Cast: Gloria Ajenstat, Nick Barkla, Colin Friels
A tough but ultimately deeply moving film from one of Australia’s most talented filmmakers
Along with Kriv Stenders (Boxing Day, Lucky Country), writer/director Alkinos Tsilimidos is one of this country’s true unsung auteurs, a brave and consistently fascinating filmmaker who grinds away working on projects that come straight from the heart. With gritty wonders like Everynight…Everynight, Silent Partner, Tom White and Em 4 Jay, Tsilimidos has proven himself a master at wringing maximum honesty and style out of minimal, almost crippling, budgets. Often dealing with stories about Australia’s criminal and under classes, Tsilimidos’ films have resounded with an earthy energy befitting their subject matter. With his latest film, however, the director pulls a sharp left turn, delivering a graceful, restrained film about death, redemption and responsibility.
Blind Company begins with Geoff Brewster (a magisterial turn from the brilliant Colin Friels) walking forlornly down a desolate Tasmanian beach. As the film progresses in its distinctively quiet, languid rhythms, we learn that Geoff is ill and careening slowly toward death. With the arrival of his abrupt, seamy, crack-smoking nephew, Joshua (Nick Barkla in a superbly confrontational performance), the nature of Geoff’s illness – and his very life – is slowly and inexorably revealed.
Based on a story by American writer, actor and comic Austin Pendleton, Blind Company nevertheless burns with the rich Australian vernacular that Tsilimidos has made his signature. Though dealing with more high brow characters here (Geoff was once a university lecturer, and his ex, Sally – nicely essayed by Gloria Ajenstat – is a boho type), Tsilimidos still rips and tears as a writer/director, barging into dark, ugly corners of humanity with no fear or compromise.
Blind Company is a tough film about horribly damaged people, but it’s also a deeply moving and ultimately rewarding work from one of this country’s best cinematic talents.
