News

Veteran editor begins production on directorial debut

Australian film Last Dance has begun production in Melbourne.

Directed by David Pulbrook, principle photography began on Monday in and around St Kilda, Melbourne.

The film is Pulbrook’s debut feature film. Pulbrook has had a long history as an editor, beginning his career in the 60s working on episodes of Homicide and Division 4. He’s since edited Gillian Armstrong’s Smokes and Lollies, Kevin Dobson’s Squizzy Taylor, Michael Pattinson’s Street Hero and Ground Zero which he won an AFI for. Most recently he edited Simon Wincer’s The Cup.

The film stars Julia Blake (Innocence, Bed of Roses), Firass Dirani (Killer Elite, Underbelly) and Alan Hopgood.

Pulbrook said of his film: “Last Dance digs beneath the stereotypes to reveal the basic humanity of the two principle protagonists and transcends the tragedy of their pasts and speaks of optimism, possibilities and tolerance. We were careful not to take sides and worked closely with Palestinian and Jewish communities to ensure a balanced point of view”.

Last Dance’s synopsis reads: “The story of Sadiq Mohammad (Dirani), a young radical Palestinian who, after fleeing from a failed suicide bombing of a synagogue, holds hostage Ulah Lippman (Blake), a holocaust survivor, in her apartment.  Desperately wounded, Sadiq hides in Ulah’s flat, planning his next move. As the police close in, Sadiq and Ulah are forced to confront their own pasts as their present collide. Taut and confronting, Last Dance is a drama torn from today’s headlines yet as universal as the human condition.  lt touches on issues of ideology, faith, freedom and oppression, but also about the power of compassion and is, ultimately, the story of family and a mother’s love.”

The film is produced by Antony I Ginnane (Patrick, High Tide) and received funding from Screen Australia, Film Victoria, and is part of the Melbourne International Film Festival’s Premiere Fund.

Becker Film Group Pty Ltd will release the film in Australia with High Point of London representing the foreign sales.

ADVERTISEMENT

Get the latest media and marketing industry news (and views) direct to your inbox.

Sign up to the free Mumbrella newsletter now.

 

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up to our free daily update to get the latest in media and marketing.