LADIES IN BLACK

When I left this screening, I could have sworn I had been sitting in that cinema for six hours! As it turns out, ‘Ladies in Black’ is a tidy hour and 45 minutes. This might seen reasonable to some, certainly by today’s standards, but not when you’re forced to watch absolutely nothing happen for almost two hours. Actually nothing happens here, and it’s all acted out to one of the worse screenplays imaginable. Why do Australian-made and set films feel the need to up the Australian factor? The word “strueth” is uttered several times, and in one scene over tea they actually hand out a plate of lamingtons. Oh, my eyes hurt after rolling them so much.

Look, there is a lovely element to the film about immigration and acceptance throughout thanks to Magda’s storyline, she being a post-war refugee from Slovenia along with her Hungarian husband and friends. However, it’s met with a bit of an assault to the senses hearing all the Australian characters refer to them as “refos” constantly. It’s so vulgar, especially laden with that heavy Aussie accent. But alas, there’s a happy ending for all and everyone learns to accept their new foreign Australian citizens who unnaturally feel the need to express how much they love this country and how lucky they are.

‘Ladies in Black’ is by beloved Australian filmmaker Bruce Beresford, the man behind great and classic films such as ‘Puberty Blues’, ‘Breaker Morant’, ‘Driving Miss Daisy’, ‘Double Jeopardy’ and ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’. Beresford also has a co-writing credit here, and I’m sorry to say Mr Beresford’s greatness has left the building. The first thing that strikes you about ‘Ladies in Black’ is its serious lack of cinematography. The look and feel of this era are just not present. Sure, the costumes and hair are there, but that’s it. The whole film looks so two-dimensional which makes it nearly impossible to be enveloped by this world. The screenplay is very stagnant and unnatural, almost like a poorly-written stage play, causing many scenes to end abruptly. ‘Ladies in Black’ left me feeling bored and borderline appalled that this film will be seen as a representation of not only ourselves but our country as artists and filmmakers. Not happy Jan.