BROKE
Australia, 2016, 105 minutes, Colour.
Steve Le Marquand, Max Cullen, Claire van der Boom, Steve Bastoni, Damian Hill, Justin Rosniak, William Zappa.
Directed by Heath Davis.
This is a little-known Australian film (unfortunately). It is accurate in its title in so far as it describes the successful life of a footballer and his subsequent collapse.
The film was written and directed by Heath Davis who went on to make the science fiction drama, Locusts.
Davis says he had the actor, Steve Le Marquand in mind (though never having met him) when he was writing the character of Ben Kelly, successful rugby player in the 1990s, great with his fans, praised by the media commentators. There are sequences of play in flashbacks here. However, whatever the reason, he overextended himself dropped out. 20 years later, he is on the road, a gambling addiction, little hope for any betterment in his life.
The film was made in the Queensland town of Gladstone. Kelly is on the road, hungry, derelict. He attracts the attention of an elderly garbage truck driver, Cec (a most sympathetic performance from veteran Max Cullen). In fact, Cec has recognised him, offers him some food, welcomes him into his house where he lives with his daughter, Terri (Claire van der Boom) who has a baby whose father has his own life in the town. Kelly however is suspicious and even robs the family of their possessions after they have shown him hospitality.
Steve La Marquand is absolutely believable as Ben Kelly. He goes to the pokies, wastes his money on a racing bet which doesn’t come off, drinks, does go to the pawnbroker to get back the possessions and delivers them to the family.
There is a temptation in this kind of story to veer the audience to sympathy, hopes for rehabilitation and redemption. But, it is not that kind of film. Rather, while it shows Ben’s attraction to Terri, he is still unreliable, attacked by a former player who feels he has betrayed him, urged to coach the kids in the town, gets caught up with criminal activity which leads to a death.
However, in the final moments, while it is not exactly a neat, happy ending, Cec and Terri are watching the prisoners playing football, Kelly among them, and gives them a wave. Hopes for redemption later.
1. The title, direct, applying to Ben Kelly? The celebrity, an open future, collapse?
2. The Queensland settings, the city of Gladstone, streets, homes, sports grounds, restaurants, meeting rooms? The musical score?
3. The relevance of the plot? Sports stars and other celebrities, revered by the public, making bad choices in life, collapse, need for rehabilitation, redemption?
4. The story of Kelly, the flashbacks, the videos of his games, the crowds? His fans, his trophies? The sports commentaries?
5. Adrift in Queensland, no money, sleeping on the streets, his gambling addiction, drinking? 20 years since his heyday?
6. Cec, kindly, great fan, seeing him in the street, offering him food and money, taking him home, Kelly sleeping in the car, Terri seeing him, bringing the pillow with his photo? Kelly’s reaction to their kindness, suspicions of Cec, gay pickup? His rude comments? Their welcome, letting him sleep, his stealing their possessions, taking them to be pawned? The pawnbroker and his hostility?
7. Cec, a character, the death of his son, sadness and regrets, Terri and her baby, the local father and his reputation? Kelly and his change of heart, getting the possessions back, wheeling them back on the trolley?
8. Kelly as a character, his self-image, getting money, spending it at the pokies? At the races?
9. Cec, the pep talks, showing him the prisoners playing football, the kids and their training? The policeman, friendship with Kelly, the past, suggesting the job in the training, Kelly’s hesitations, agreeing?
10. The attraction to Terri, her admiration of his past, the date, the diner, the proprietor and her demands, his owing money, getting him to wash up? The bond with Terri after the difficulties? Terri going back and Kelly not turning up?
11. The meeting, the sportsman, his resentment, the past and his seeing Kelly as a traitor, the fight in the street?
12. Kelly, possibilities for future, the pawnbroker picking him up, the pressure, the bookie, Kelly’s friendship with him, the snatch of the money, the bookie and his collapse and death, Kelly trying to revive him? The police and the arrest? Charges of manslaughter?
13. The film moving towards a grim ending? Kelly’s failure? The final glimpse of possible redemption – Kelly playing with the prisoners, Cec and Terri watching him, waving?
