Jindabyne

Ray Lawrence, Australia, 2006, 123 minutes

What would you do if you discovered the body of an Aboriginal girl while on an idyllic weekend fishing trip with friends? If you’re Stewart (Gabriel Byrne) then you tie her to the bank with a piece of string, continue your buddy trip and don’t report the murder to the authorities until Monday morning.

Thus starts off the truly excellent third film by acclaimed Australian director Ray Lawrence. Like his previous feature ‘Lantana’ the story revolves around the discovery of a body and the effect it has on the local community. When the four men return from their male-bonding weekend they face the condemnation of their town and their wives. The murder fractures relationships in the small-town of Jindabyne and brings pent up tensions (sexual, personal, racial, spiritual) to the surface. Much of the film focuses on the effect the murder has on the relationship between Stewart and his American wife Claire (Laura Linney, fabulous as ever.) However Claire’s own personal attempt to make amends to the victim’s family and the apathy of the small-minded town towards her efforts are also examined. Behind Australia’s sunny multi-cultural façade the painful effects of Aboriginal persecution are still alive and Jindabyne’ makes no attempt to hide them.

An adaptation of Raymond Carver’s short story ‘So Much Water So Close to Home’ (used already in Robert Altman’s ‘Short Cuts’) this is an engrossing, slow-burning drama which lingers in the mind long after seeing it. Besides the all-round five star performances I could rave about ‘Jindabyne’s’ beautiful cinematography, excellent pacing and richly textured narrative. But if I did I’d be here all night. I simply urge you to see it for yourself.

Review by Flippanta Kulakiewicz
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2008