Greenkeeping

A low-key story about an ordinary working bloke, Lenny (Mark Little), and the lawn bowling club at which he is the greenkeeper.

Lenny has bought a nice new vintage ute, but the rest of his life is turning sour: the grass at the bowling club is turning brown before the big tournament and the club president is on his back; his girlfriend sits at home all day in her dressing gown, nervously smoking dope and arguing with his Christian brother; the blokes he knows who sell his girlfriend dope are hassling him for the $3,000 she owes them; and the local magpie attacks him whenever his back is turned.

This is a wry observational comedy about the Aussie working class, and about the faintly bizarre world of lawn bowls with its collection of traditional older Aussies and strange rules and rituals.

While perhaps too low-key for some, there are gentle pleasures to be had here.

David Caesar has made a number of other films on similar themes since this debut, and is one of my favourite film-makers.