2.37

Australia, 2006, 90 minutes, Colour.
Teresa Palmer, Sam Harris, Frank West.
Directed by Mathuri K. Thaluri.

A very impressive first film. When one hears that it is about teenage problems and high school crises, expectations are that it will be a variation on the jocks and bimbos of American high school movies. It is not. It stands on its own, all the more striking that the writer-director has had practically no training and was born in 1984, making him 20 when he was working on the film. He had no Government assistance in making it.

The film is very serious. It was occasioned by the suicide of a friend of the director who dedicates his film to her.

We are introduced to six students in black and white talking heads interviews. The film opens with the suicide (but we don’t know which of the students it is) and goes back over the day at school. It uses the three steps forward, one step back technique to highlight how the incidents interconnect, making the drama more intricate and powerful.

There are the expected problems (what other problems are there?): measuring up to parents’ excessive standards, crushes and relationships, jock boasting, bullying and mocking, the newcomer from England with embarrassing disabilities, the marginalised gay character, pregnancy, going to counsellors… But they are all taken with appropriate seriousness and the young cast give of their best to make the problems compelling.

The film was screened in Un Certain Regard and was received with prolonged applause… quite exceeding the maker’s expectations.

1. The impact of the film? As a first film? As a young director? Young cast? The maturing of the film?

2. The title, the time of Kelly's death? The film dedicated to the director's friend who killed herself?

3. The city setting, the school, the rooms, the corridors, the toilets?

4. The musical score, especially the opening with the requiem of Faure and the use of Andrew Lloyd Weber's 'Requiem'? The incidental music, contemporary, the classics like Vivaldi?

5. The structure of the film: the suicide at the opening, the locked door, the teacher and the students banging, calling the janitor - seeing the blood? A puzzle as to who had died?

6. The introduction to each of the characters, the interviews? Black and white photography, talking heads? The information, the tone, the issues, the personalities, interests? The final comments of each of the characters on Kelly? Kelly herself being interviewed?

7. Life at school, the day, the students arriving, meeting each other, at the lockers, the chatter, mockery, classes, discussions, essays and marks, counsellor visits, the teachers, sport, the interactions? An ordinary day at school?

8. Kelly as an incidental character, with Marcus at the piano, offering the tissue to Steven, quiet? Her sadness, her walking around the school at the last minutes of her life, her motivations, the long suicide scene, contemplation, the scissors, cutting herself, the flow of the blood, her consciousness - and memories? A symbol of the expression of the others?

9 . Marcus, his emulating his father, wanting to be a lawyer? His father and his demands, criticism of Marcus's achievement, putting him down? The relationship with his sister, telling his mother about her charity concern? His demands, driving to school? Playing the piano, the duet with Kelly, their discussion? His failure to see anything wrong with Kelly? In class, getting eighty-seven for his paper, his overreaction and upset, the expectations of his father, going to the teacher, making demands, her rejection? In the library, the girl coming with the news about his sister's pregnancy? His storming out, his anger with his sister? The flashbacks and his relationship with his sister, the information, it being visualised? His final callow comments - that he would have helped Kelly if she had asked him?

10. Mel, the sadness in the morning, going to school with her brother, with her friends? Her discussions, the pairing with Luke? Her sadness, going to the toilet, the pregnancy test, the effect on her, it being seen by Sarah? The comments with the girl - 'slut', and audiences finally realising Sarah was meaning Mel? In class, her sadness, remembering her brother's assault? Her going out of class, Marcus coming, shaking her? Her going to the door, discovering the suicide?

11. Sarah, preening herself at the opening, her comments about marriage, criticism of the feminists? Her kissing Luke, glad that he had picked her of all the girls? Her seeing the pregnancy test, telling the others, her insult to Mel? The encounter with Luke, her being pleased, his later rejection and swearing at her? Her weeping? Her saying that she had not talked to Kelly for ten years?

12. Steven, at home, listening to the English soccer, his migration with his family, three months at the school, his explanation of himself, one leg shorter than the other, the two urethras, the accidents? His parents, all the attempts to remedy the situation? His family support? In class, his wetting himself, the smell, the reaction of the students, mocking him? His explanation of his change of clothes? His hopes, surviving for ninety days? Hearing Luke and his interaction with Sean? Luke punching him? Kelly offering him the tissue? His saying that Kelly was his friend?

13. Luke, sportsman, the jock type, running to school? At home, the masturbation (and the later revelation)? His friends, his putting down of education, saying that the material wasn't relevant? The sex talk with his mates? The harsh mockery of Sean? The discussions about Sarah, sexual relationship with her? Sport, the jokes, in the shower and his being upset? With Sarah, later swearing at her? Meeting Sean, the kiss, his violent reaction, his hitting Steven? His telling the counsellor that there were some things that couldn't be spoken about?

14. Sean, smoking, stoned? Talking about sex and the transition to admission he was gay? Telling people to get over it? The class, the class discussion about gay couple adopting, the students and the variety of attitudes? His going to the counsellor, talking about his family, his father's reaction, his mother, his ideal brother? His smoking in the storeroom? His laughing? His defiant attitude towards others? Meeting Luke, the kiss, Luke and the others and their mocking of him? His going to the counsellor, talking about his relationship, hopes for the future?

15. The absent parents, as perceived by their children, the generally hostile reaction except for Steven? Mel and her phone call to her mother, on holidays, the absent father? His demands on his
children?

16. The glimpses of the staff, the variety of teachers, their interactions with the students, helping, not helping? The counsellor and his listening?

17. A portrait of teenagers, at school, at home? A serious look at teenagers and their problems? Kelly and her depression - and the reality of teenage suicide?