Last night I went to see The King is Dead by Rolf de Heer, he of Bad Boy Bubby and Ten Canoes fame, hmmm. Ensconced in the back row I watched as the rest of the audience ventured in. The mood was clearly one of trepidation as people flocked to the aisle seats claiming them, ‘incase I have to leave’. Hearing this I pondered what I was in for, and whether there’d be anyone left for the exclusive Q & A session with Rolf after the movie.
As the movie started the audience stilled …
Moments later they erupted with the first of many laughs, though I’m guessing the initial one had a modicum of relief thrown in. The movie has been called Heer’s most accessible film, and is a beautifully crafted, relaxed suburban comedy, with some very dark overtones sure, but predominantly another wonderful Australian comedy.
Set in Adelaide, and actually in Rolf’s family home, it’s a tale about a happy, unsuspecting laidback couple. Science teacher Max (Dan Wyllie) and tax accountant Therese (Bojana Novakovic), buy a house in what appears to be a quiet, friendly neighbourhood. Settling in well, they make friends with a nice family on one side and soon meet a more interesting family on the other side. But interesting soon becomes loud and loud soon becomes intolerable. When the intolerable becomes violent and the police are powerless, Max and Therese attempt to take matters into their own hands.
It’s a delight to peek inside Max and Therese’s thought processes as their plans escalate, and they justify their actions. Anyone who has had a troublesome neighbour, and immersed themselves in way too many police dramas or murder mysteries, will easily relate to these hilarious scenes.
The movie explores notions of middleclass Australia, tolerance, exploitation, and evolution. One brilliant comment comes when science teacher Max, looks to evolution to justify his actions explaining, there’s something wrong in society when “decent people are powerless against those who run rampant.”
You know a movie’s good when there’s a momentary glitch, the screen freezes, and the audience cries out as one.
As I left the movie with a smile on my face I pondered:
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What would I have done in the same situation?
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That you never know what’s really going on behind closed doors?
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Sometimes the toughest looking are just victims themselves?
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How great it is to see another brilliant Australian story being played out on the big screen.
Note: If you don’t like strong language it’s not for you.
Link: forgot tp put the trailer link in sorry, here you go The King Is Dead trailer
Link: forgot tp put the trailer link in sorry, here you go The King Is Dead trailer
Stay tuned for: The Q & A session with Rolf de Heer
