Moviecut—Early Winter

source: Early Winter

Best Australian-directed film I'v seen for a while - Michael Rowe's EARLY WINTER. Set in English and French speaking Canada, this is a chilling relationship drama with a fantastic eye. Unlike our local industry's use of cinemascope, Rowe uses the frame to tell a story, rather than throw arty dead-space at the audience. These are meticulously composed shots with long takes that frame great atmospheric, dramatic sequences. The film is also a huge lesson in screen acting. The lead actress would normally do four takes based on the script, then say "Ok, now its my turn" and start improvising. The results are superb and perhaps something that couldn't be written on the page. Why don't we make films as good as this locally (in Australia)? Well Rowe thinks its because bureaucrats know nothing about how to make a good film.. In the FINAL CUT interview, Rowe talks about the system being "afraid of directors". Great interview, check it out. If you want to be proud of a local artist's work - seek out EARLY WINTER. Order the DVD or stream it its available through JB, Fishpond, ebay. Don't think about it, make it the top of your watch list. If you want to be inspired by what a local artist has to say - listen to his interview in ABC Radio National THE FINAL CUT where he lays out his vision

A Canadian-Australian drama film; A story about a man who lives a predictable life with his wife and children, but begins to suspect that his wife of adultery. Heavy and downbeat, this drama about the last days of a marriage is vivid and real. Every effort is made by the director to provide an earnest platform for the marriage to appear doomed - cinematography, the absence of close ups, a humdrum lifestyle that can't help. There is so little joy so it is left to the dialogue to provide a final indication of where all this could possibly go. Even a positive note even seems to be a lie. Its value as a film is in its harsh truths arriving quickly after many false dawns of hope.

As a companion piece to another movie made in 2015: '45 Years', 'Early Winter' is concerned with the relationship between a husband and a wife. In this Canadian/Australian Co-production, the pair are considerably younger than Tom Courtenay/Charlotte Rampling from the British film, but are likewise dealing with a subtle but incredibly powerful shift in their union. I was greatly excited at the prospect of seeing this movie as it stars one of my favourite new women in world cinema: Suzanne Clement. Her astounding performance in Xavier Dolan's transgender love story 'Laurence Anyways' and her compelling supporting turn in Dolan's 'Mommy' have given me a sense of the versatility and undeniable power to her screen presence. Clement does not disappoint here in a very different role; bringing at times a seething frustration and world weariness which is painful to observe. Paul Doucet is wonderful in the bigger role and the more sympathetic of the couple. His tenderness in his work scenes are beautifully contrasted with the often fractious ones in his home. Australian born director Michael Rowe keeps the audience at a distance emotionally and spacially thanks to the litany of long, wide and two shot coverage he uses in his final edit. There are many scenes where very little is uttered, but as with '45 Years', there is texturally so much being conveyed and felt. The often bleak and icy street scenes and late at night hospital/nursing home sequences contribute much to the 'Early winter' being portrayed thematically and realistically. It doesn't really cover any new ground, but what is really special about 'Early Winter' is the exploration of a universal quest by humanity - connection. It is found often where it is least expected. The story is slow and at times slight (focusing on little details of daily family life) and then touching on some very sobering and heartbreaking ones, but I respect the filmmaker's choices as he steadily builds a portrait of the increasingly divergent journeys of its leading characters. See it for Suzanne Clement and Paul Doucet; see it for its honesty and its sensitivity.

Stupidest movie I have seen in a long time. SOOOOOOOOOOOO.. slow. Get to the point. Hated it. Don't waste your time.

Early Winter