Director Justin Kurzel’s feature Snowtown, opens nationally today (through Madman) after succesfully shocking audiences at Cannes earlier this week for Critics Week.
Written by Shaun Grant and produced byAnna McLeish and Sarah Shaw, Snowtown is about an impressionable 16 year-old boy, Jamie (Lucas Pittaway), introduced to a charismatic older man, John (Daniel Henshall). As their relationship grows, Jamie questions his new father-figure whose intentions seem unclear. John soon envelops Jamie into a dark and sinister world. The story is based upon the life and murders of South Australian serial killer John Bunting.
Reviews from Cannes:
Silicon of Rope‘s Brad Brevet said, “as a first time feature effort Justin Kurzel has turned in a solid film and tapped into something primal with the aide of his actors and a pounding, yet minimal score by Kurzel’s brother, Jed. I wouldn’t necessarily say I need to see it again, but I’m glad I saw it once and will be sure to keep an eye out for Kurzel’s work in the future.”
First Showing‘s Alex Billington said, “the story is so disturbing, unnerving, and just sick at times, that in no way could I say I enjoyed it. But it is actually a damn good film, that’s for sure.”
ADVERTISEMENT
And for those that missed it, here is David and Margaret’s transcript from At the Movies, last night.
From Cannes, the film has been picked up by Revolver Films for distribution in the UK, and French distributor ARP.
Kurzel made his Cannes debut with short film Blue Tongue in 2005. Snowtown won the Audience Award at this year’s Adelaide Film Festival.