The Ponder Room

A totally unique experience (The Turning)

5
By on Inspiration, Mental Health, Movies, Review

Now I don’t always run  towards new experiences, but a few weeks ago I jumped at the chance to join a dozen others in a small pitch black room for ‘a unique’ experience, or so the media release said. It wasn’t wrong. The much anticipated movie The Turning is unlike any other movie experience I’ve ever been to, here’s a few reasons why.


For starters it’s a made up of a collection of short stories. As someone who prefers a snappy collection of short stories to a War and Peace tome, this already got me in.

Then there’s the director … there’s 17 of them, from Marieka Walsh (The Hunter), Warwick Thornton (The Sapphires), Robert Connolly (Balibo) to first time director David Wenham.

Next the depth of acting talent. It’s a who’s who of great Australian actors including Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Rose Byrne, Miranda Otto, Richard Roxburgh, Susie Porter, and Callan Mulvey to name a few.

Robert Connolly and Callan Mulvey

 

At 180 minutes it’s long but, and here’s another utterly unique aspect, there’s an interval. When was the last time you went to the movies and half way through the theatre lights came on. I must admit I found the break timely, and not just because my stomach and bladder were vying for my attention, it was good to have a break from some of the bleaker themes being played out. I also gave us a chance to chat about what we’d seen so far.

By now you all know that the film is based on the book by multi-award winning author Tim Winton. The movie reinterprets his book that delves into the turning points in people’s lives.



Rosie Byrne

For me the real beauty is in the diversity of tales and treatments, so if you’re not enjoying one story don’t worry there’s another one coming along, or as Robert Connolly explained …

‘Our plan … presenting a cinema experience similar to entering an art gallery, allowing a personal response to the many unique threads and connections without losing the value of experiencing each individual work and the artist behind it. The Turning presents a unique invitation to an audience to come into the cinema, to experience and investigate each of the works, to discuss them and create their own meanings.’

Kate Blanchett

I came away remembering themes of bullying, regret, domestic violence, being home alone, obsession, and rural life, but also the strong presence of alcohol underlying many of the turning points. The labyrinth of stories are made all the more complex because recurring characters are played by different actors. The lack of continuity makes the viewer work harder and hints at a greater story which may have been missed on first viewing.

Writing this review made me realise how much some of the stories have stayed with me, even if I didn’t think so when I left the cinema. Standouts for me were Rosie Burn (The Turning), Hugo Weaving (Commission), Callan Mulvey (Aquifer), Susie Porter (On Her Knees) and Waangenga Blanco (Sand).

‘… the past is in us, and not behind us. Things are never over’ Aquifer.

Luna Cinema is hosting a Q and A session next week
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5 Comments

  2. The Ponder Room on

    Thanks heaps Chris nice to hear from you. I was lucky enough to go to the WA premier last night and got more out of the stories the time around, even when the movie stopped because the wild storm caused problems for the beautiful old cinema. Another great night. Let me know what you think when you see it

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