Beautiful Kate

Proving once again that when it comes to intense family drama's and quietly powerful studies of grief and secrets, Australia does it just as good if not better than anyone else, little known but well regarded local film Beautiful Kate is a fine example of the above average productions that often manifest themselves in our home grown industry.

Directed by actress turned director Rachel Ward, starring a then just about to hit the big time Ben Mendelsohn and Australian stalwarts Bryan Brown and Rachel Griffiths alongside the at the time newcomer Sophie Lowe, Beautiful Kate isn't an easy or even what you'd call enjoyable watch but this impressively filmed and acted slice of outback family melodrama is a worthy film to be sort out by connoisseurs of Australian cinema.

The most pressing reason to source Ward's film is of course the man of the moment Ben Mendelsohn. Playing internally repressed writer Ned Kendall who grew up with his unloving farmer father Bruce played by Brown, Mendelsohn once more displays his finely tuned performance skills to play troubled characters and it offers us cinema lovers one of the rare chances to see Mendelsohn take lead in a film even if both Brown and Lowe deserve kudos for their respective turns. Lowe in particular makes a rather confronting and stripped back mark as the layered Kate, Ned's sister who is the central cause behind much of his seething struggles.

The film also looks fantastic with impressive camera-work by DOP Andrew Commis and Ward's direction in certain areas really captures particular moments and feelings, no better exemplified by the way in which the younger version of Ned is often displayed in a first person point of view, throwing the viewer head first into the time and place that shaped Ned's life before it ever really had a chance to truly begin. It's a smart directional choice and a brave one as is Ward's determination to not shy away from the difficult and often disturbing subject matters that lay ever present within her story.

Final Say –

Far from perfect and sometimes not as emotionally resonate as you would've liked, Beautiful Kate is a worthwhile tough watch thanks to its fine production values and noteworthy performances that includes a pre-Animal Kingdom Ben Mendelsohn in what's another fine example as to why he should be regarded as one of Australia's best ever acting imports.

Not a film for everybody, Beautiful Kate is however a film any fan of Australian cinema should check out if they missed its original critically backed run from 2009.

3 ½ campaign posters out of 5

Ned Kendall (Ben Mendelsohn) has come back to the family home with young wannabe actress Toni (Maeve Dermody) after 20 years of absence. He must come to terms with his dying father Bruce (Bryan Brown), and resolve the death of his twin sister Kate (Sophie Lowe). There he finds his sister Sally (Rachel Griffiths) dutifully taking care of their mean spirited father in their old crumbling farm that is soon to be lost to the bank. Much of this movie goes into flashback mode. It's a much more compelling story in the past due mostly to Sophie Lowe's enigmatic performance. The present story is much more depressed, and it struggles under the weight of buried anger. There is a mystery of the family's past. There are deaths not talked about. The present day needs some more energy.

I saw this film over a week ago, and it still stays with me, almost haunts me. Tex Perkins' soundtrack was perfect, and like the images, will hang around you for days, perhaps weeks.

The subject matter is not pretty, and may be confronting to many, but in my experience it is not terribly unusual or unexpected, given the remoteness of the family farm. Accolades must go to the cast - Ben Mendelsohn, Bryan Brown, Rachel Griffiths (deliberately dowdy in this)and the amazing Sophie Lowe as Kate. The Flinders Ranges in South Australia also has a major role, and performs well - beautiful, remote, dangerous and overwhelming, a bit like the underlying secret which gets addressed during the course of the film.

This is the story of a family secret, hidden (but not forgotten) for 20 years, and the final revelations are stark and shocking. The cinematography and editing are truly inspiring, and I was thrilled to see such a fine piece of film-making. Top credit however must go to Rachel Ward - Director, writer (adapted from the novel)- as this is her movie, and she deserves every one of the awards that this movie is sure to receive. As a piece of art - which it is - this film will move you, even if it makes your skin crawl, or you find yourself wriggling in your seat. For the experience alone, this film is worth seeing.

Let me start by saying that Beautiful Kate is an acquired taste. I believe that it's a movie that'll either shock you or enthrall you. This will depend on how attached you can become to a film. If you are not one of those people, then you'll still find an interesting, yet disturbing, flick.

If you are one of those 'attached' people, like me, then you will find an unexpected masterpiece.

Technically, there is a lot of impressive stuff here. The direction, editing, production and cinematography are most impressive. The editing is the notable mention for the way in which the film blends together different timelines in such a seamless manner. So while the director performs brilliantly, I think it's the editing team who should step forward and take the final bow for creating something so cohesive. But South Australia must also take a bow for providing some spectacular backdrops which you will get to see as the movie progresses.

I think Kate will go down as a critics' favourite and I hope to see it win big at awards. Australia is the place to be for art-house films these days. Beautiful Kate is the pinnacle of modern Australian movies. In recent years we've seen the quality of Australian storytelling from 'Ten Canoes' all the way through to the likes of 'Kenny'.

If you liked this, then I thoroughly recommend you also see 'Last Ride' with Hugo Weaving.

To summarise, Beautiful Kate's dark subject matter is superbly crafted with technical and artistic skill that will lead you on a roller-coaster of emotion. Unforgettable. 10/10

I have mixed feelings about this one. It gives a real taste of the harshness of outback farm life in Australia, and it is certainly well directed and produced. The acting performances are convincing, though the character of Toni seems a little over the top, or even unnecessary to the story. Speaking of which; the story is the weakness here. What could have been a psychological drama tracing taboo desires and their roots is instead allowed to develop into a father vs son struggle that we've seen too many times before.

Overall: dark, fascinating, challenging, but let down in the end by a plot without the depth to really carry it over the line. Worth watching though.