A LITTLE BIT OF SOUL

Australia, 1998, 84 minutes. Colour.
Geoffrey Rush, David Wenham, Frances O’ Connor, Heather Mitchell, John Gaden, Kerry Walker, Roy Billing, Jennifer Hagen, Peter Duncan.
Directed by Peter Duncan.

A Little Bit of Soul is an odd black comedy – which may work for some audiences but probably doesn’t work for most audiences. The reason for seeing the film is the performance by Geoffrey Rush after his Oscar-winning role in Shine. David Wenham and Frances O’ Connor appear in early roles. Veteran Heather Mitchell is Geoffrey Rush’s wife. Supporting roles include John Gaden as a doctor, Kerry Walker as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Roy Billing as the judge, Jennifer Hagen as the prosecutor and the writer-director, Peter Duncan, as the defence lawyer.

In many ways, the plot is silly – and the performances are in that vein. Geoffrey Rush is the national treasurer, becomes prime minister, relies on clichés and talk without understanding much – and is a Satanist, along with his strange wife, played by Heather Mitchell. The wife has an endowment from her father (later discovered to be a Satanist – and the film uses the voice of Richard Roxburgh). David Wenham is a scientist who wants to prevent ageing and examines chickens. Frances O’Connor? is his former assistant who has left him, is engaged, and both arrive at the farm of the endowment in order to get a grant.

There is some comedy of mix-ups, eccentric characters, the introduction of the Satanist them – as well as a murder. The film then goes to three years later with the two scientists married, dependent on grants from the strange couple, especially now that the treasurer has become prime minister. Things get out of hand, there is a court case about a murdered friend, there is an expose of the madness of the prime minister in the court – and things end up happily for the couple, running a pharmacy store in the city and giving their newly developed tablet to deserving elderly people.

The film was written and directed by Peter Duncan who also wrote and directed Children of the Revolution, Passion (the story of Percy Grainger), Hell Has Harbour Views, Unfinished Sky, Valentine’s Day. He was the co-creator, and writer and director of some of the series, Rake.

1. The impact of the film? A target audience? Those who enjoy black comedy?

2. The mind behind the film – comic, silly? The performances accordingly?

3. The title, Satanists, possession?

4. The focus on Richard, the credits, his chickens? His experiments? His application for a grant – and the phone calls rejecting it? The phone call from Grace, his excitement, taking the chickens, on the train? Meeting Kate? Their past history, her engagement? The information from Susan – and her phone calls, the later discovery that she had visited the Ushers, had been killed?

5. Kate, her personality, at the station, with Richard, her story, the engagement? Her breaking off the engagement?

6. The Ushers, their farm, eccentricities? Geoffrey Rush’s performance as Godfrey? Credible and incredible as the national treasurer? His clichés, his cards to give him information? His erratic behaviour? Coming on to Kate? His relationship with Grace? Grace, her appearance, not wanting to age, her eccentricities, coming on to Richard? The effect on Kate and Richard? The death, mopping up the blood? Carrying on with the barbeque as if nothing had happened?

7. The revelation of the Satanism, Godfrey and Grace explaining, the effect on Richard and Kate? Their following through?

8. Three years later, Kate and Richard, married, their success, not telling Grace, her being upset at not finding out? Her erratic behaviour? Godfrey, as prime minister, loved by the people, yet still dithering? His jealousy of Grace?

9. The ceremony, tied up, Grace and her reaction, Godfrey and his denouncing Grace, her hitting him, freeing them? Godfrey and his survival of the fire? Accusing them of murder?

10. The court case, the prosecutor, the defence lawyer? The speeches? Richard suggesting cross-examination of Godfrey about the economy, his making a fool of himself, getting madder, confessing to the crime?

11. The background of Australian politics, treasurer, prime minister, the visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs?

12. Doctor Somerville, his doctorate, foretelling the future? His arrival? Saving the day – and wanting to take the formula?

13. The happy ending, Kate’s brother and his being helped with the tablets, the hundred-year-old lady and her party? The pharmacy?

14. Just a situational comedy with black overtones or a political and scientific and social satire?