life-style, celebrity, Goulburn, Lilac City Cinema, Steve Chapman, Bellbird, Film review
Amidst the devastation of the recent bushfires one human characteristic prevailed: a sense of community. Neighbours and strangers alike united in a time of unimaginable adversity. Bellbird, a wonderfully life-affirming, emotive and delightfully tender movie, explores the healing properties a caring community fosters. Compassion, empathy and concern are essential aspect of humanity all quietly exhibited in this New Zealand movie. Sixty-something Ross (Marshall Napier) has farmed the land all his life, just as his father and grandfather did before him. Ross is a largely silent man; some would say a sullen, grumpy old codger who prefers to spend time with his cows rather than people. ALSO READ: See and hear stories of service to the nation Ross farms the land alongside his far more exuberant, cheerful and chatty wife Beth (Annie Whittle), who is an eager participant in the local choir and a friend to many. Yet the relationship works; their individual differences combine to produce a perfectly balanced attachment. When Beth suddenly dies, Ross is crushed but incapable of displaying his emotions. He drifts into a dark place eschewing all offers of assistance from neighbours. Stoic, and fiercely independent, Ross insists his son Bruce (Cohen Holloway) move back to help. Bruce, with deep hurt in his eyes, is not suited to the farming life. ALSO READ: Colleen Cooper awarded Senior of the Year | VIDEO Bruce also has great difficulties in expressing himself. There develops a civil, wordless tussle between these two inarticulate men as they attempt in their own bumbling way to navigate their loss and inner feelings. But one detects there is an undercurrent of love and loyalty to each other. With the medium between the two men gone, Beth's death exposes them to each other in a more dramatic manner. We see them struggle by talking without talking. They painstakingly avoid any mention of each other's pain so as to not ignite their own. And herein lies one of the movie's great strengths: its true poignancy is often dependent upon what is left unsaid. The one person Ross can unburden his heart to is charmingly down-to-earth, buoyant Connie (Rachel House), his boss at the local refuse centre. She delivers one of the best lines in the movie: "You two must have some scintillating conservations at home," she remarks to a monosyllabic Bruce. ALSO READ: The Mother's Club musical postponed I found the scene where Beth's choirmates gather around her grave to sing her happy birthday powerfully moving and encapsulates the movie's simple but profound message: the healing of community. Around them, their friends realise the difficulties, and pitch in to help. Marley, a cocky but passionate 11-year-old neighbour (Kahukura Retimana), is eager to help out on the farm after school. Socially challenged local vet Klem (Stephen Tamarapa) is pithily amusing when he shows squeamish Bruce how to give a cow a rectal probe. Bellbird has something special to offer due to outstanding, subtle and nuanced performances from quirky but real-to-life characters; quietly observational style; idyllic landscape - the green rolling forested hills of the Northland region - and a special kind of adroit Kiwi humour. ALSO READ: 'Terrifying' storm leaves a trail of road and tree damage Bellbird is a sheer delight to watch - a warm, balanced, unhurried, heartfelt film enthused with loss, hope and love which elicits laughter and tears. It is easy to see why it was the Official Selection at the 2019 Sydney Film Festival. The Goulburn Film Group will host the screening of Bellbird at the Lilac City Cinema this Sunday, February 23 at 4.45pm. The cost is $10 and the running time - 96 minutes. Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.
NUANCED: Annie Whittle and Marshall Napier star in the heartfelt drama, Bellbird, which will screen at the Lilac City Cinema on Sunday. Photo supplied.
Amidst the devastation of the recent bushfires one human characteristic prevailed: a sense of community. Neighbours and strangers alike united in a time of unimaginable adversity.
Bellbird, a wonderfully life-affirming, emotive and delightfully tender movie, explores the healing properties a caring community fosters. Compassion, empathy and concern are essential aspect of humanity all quietly exhibited in this New Zealand movie.
Sixty-something Ross (Marshall Napier) has farmed the land all his life, just as his father and grandfather did before him. Ross is a largely silent man; some would say a sullen, grumpy old codger who prefers to spend time with his cows rather than people.
Ross farms the land alongside his far more exuberant, cheerful and chatty wife Beth (Annie Whittle), who is an eager participant in the local choir and a friend to many.
Yet the relationship works; their individual differences combine to produce a perfectly balanced attachment.
When Beth suddenly dies, Ross is crushed but incapable of displaying his emotions. He drifts into a dark place eschewing all offers of assistance from neighbours. Stoic, and fiercely independent, Ross insists his son Bruce (Cohen Holloway) move back to help. Bruce, with deep hurt in his eyes, is not suited to the farming life.
Bruce also has great difficulties in expressing himself. There develops a civil, wordless tussle between these two inarticulate men as they attempt in their own bumbling way to navigate their loss and inner feelings. But one detects there is an undercurrent of love and loyalty to each other.
With the medium between the two men gone, Beth's death exposes them to each other in a more dramatic manner. We see them struggle by talking without talking. They painstakingly avoid any mention of each other's pain so as to not ignite their own.
Bellbird has something special to offer due to outstanding, subtle and nuanced performances from quirky but real-to-life characters.
Steve Chapman
And herein lies one of the movie's great strengths: its true poignancy is often dependent upon what is left unsaid.
The one person Ross can unburden his heart to is charmingly down-to-earth, buoyant Connie (Rachel House), his boss at the local refuse centre. She delivers one of the best lines in the movie: "You two must have some scintillating conservations at home," she remarks to a monosyllabic Bruce.
I found the scene where Beth's choirmates gather around her grave to sing her happy birthday powerfully moving and encapsulates the movie's simple but profound message: the healing of community.
Around them, their friends realise the difficulties, and pitch in to help. Marley, a cocky but passionate 11-year-old neighbour (Kahukura Retimana), is eager to help out on the farm after school. Socially challenged local vet Klem (Stephen Tamarapa) is pithily amusing when he shows squeamish Bruce how to give a cow a rectal probe.
Bellbird has something special to offer due to outstanding, subtle and nuanced performances from quirky but real-to-life characters; quietly observational style; idyllic landscape - the green rolling forested hills of the Northland region - and a special kind of adroit Kiwi humour.
Bellbird is a sheer delight to watch - a warm, balanced, unhurried, heartfelt film enthused with loss, hope and love which elicits laughter and tears. It is easy to see why it was the Official Selection at the 2019 Sydney Film Festival.
The Goulburn Film Group will host the screening of Bellbird at the Lilac City Cinema this Sunday, February 23 at 4.45pm. The cost is $10 and the running time - 96 minutes.
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Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.
