Jindabyne

Ray Lawrence’s eagerly awaited third film is a powerful drama that manages to intelligently capture Australia’s complex society without being condescending or simplistic. The film starts out something like a sequel to Wolf Creek, where again we have a ruthless killer stalking a helpless young woman in the middle of nowhere. But what follows is a complex tale of how we are all tethered to our past. Drowned but not forgotten is the original town of Jindabyne that had to make way for the Snowy Mountains scheme, and no matter how the characters try to conquer their past, it’s always there, threatening to drag them under.

In a strange (but not unwelcome move) for Australian cinema, the cast is headed by an Irishman and an American. Laura Linney (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) is brilliant as usual, but I’m concerned it won’t be long before I tire of the ‘downtrodden wife’ roles that invariably come her way. Gabriel Byrne (Assault on Precinct 13) is good also, though his character’s motivations are frustratingly ambiguous. It’s hard to sympathise with this man who seems to have no strong ideals, be they selfless or selfish. John Howard, Simon Stone and Stelios Yiakmis complete the quartet of men who go on a fishing trip together and end up dividing not only their families but also the entire town.

The cinematography is bold, incorporating techniques that are usually avoided. We’re treated to slow zooms and fades, and once one gets comfortable with this style they truly add to the film’s more ethereal qualities. Time and again I was reminded of Picnic at Hanging Rock when watching the dead grass and huge gums sway in the breeze.

After such a build-up in the media, however, I was slightly disappointed. The central ambiguity is discouraging and there seemed to be several elements or moments that lead nowhere. The film also feels a little sluggish as it moves to the final act.

Overall Jindabyne is a powerful film that lingers once it’s over, it just failed to enthral me in quite the way I had hoped.