The Ponder Room

Animal healing powers shown off in the Healing movie

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By on Animals, Australia, Inspiration, Movies, People/Interviews, Perth, Review

When I first read the synopsis of director Craig Monahan’s latest movie, Healing, about redemption, hope and healing your spirit, I was pretty sure I knew what to expect but I was wrong. What a wonderfully moving movie, and what a surprise to learn, by chance, about a similar story playing out right here in Perth.

Healing © The Ponder Room


Based on true events the story centres on Viktor Khadem (Don Hany) who’s reaching the end of an 18 year prison sentence, and may eventually be released back into society. In readiness for that he’s sent to Won Wron Correctional Centre, a low security prison farm 200km outside of Melbourne.

Healing © The Ponder Room

A scene where Viktor is opening and closing the door to his room, is a clever reminder of the things we take for granted.

Enter Senior Case Worker Matt Perry (Hugo Weaving), a man grappling with his own past, who has devised a program using injured eagles, falcons and owls to help with the rehabilitation.

Viktor is introduced to Yasmine, an extraordinary Wedge-tailed Eagle, and tasked with getting her ready for her release.

Meanwhile Viktors young charge Paul (Xavier Samuel), is given an inquisitive owl.


Healing © The Ponder Room

Things get interesting when a more institutionalised prisoner Warren (Anthony Hayes) tries to enforce the old style prison hierarchy, using Shane (Mark Leonard Winter) as his gullible stooge.


By now you too may think you know what happens, but I can assure you there are a couple of good twists to keep things interesting …

Healing © The Ponder Room

Hugo Weaving is delightfully understated, Don Hany captures the essence of a man learning to love again, with lines like ‘never forget who you are or you will lose your way back home. Keep that in your heart’.




Healing © The Ponder Room

Jane Menelaus is brilliant as bird handler Glenys, and Mark Leonard Winter nearly steels the show, but it is Yasmine who is the most mesmerising.




Healing © The Ponder Room

The music by David Hirshfelder offers several meditative moments, while the cinematography by Andrew Lesnie is superb, giving the audience a birds eye view, literally, as Yasmine flys through the air. Just beautiful.
Healing © The Ponder Room
The movie left me pondering about:
  1. Letting go and venturing forth into the wild;
  2. That there is a time to judge and a time to let go;
  3. Try, try, try again if you don’t succeed the first time.

The story was inspired by the Raptor Rehabilitiation Program in Victoria, and on the Perth Q and A night we were delighted to find out about a similar program happening right here in Perth with Black Cockatoos. For more information on the Perth program go to http://www.blackcockatoorecovery.com/


Healing © The Ponder Room
 

Healing won the 2013 Queensland Literary Award for Feature Film Script.
 
The film is showing at www.lunacinemas.com.au
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3 Comments

  1. The Ponder Room on

    A reader has said the link to Black Cockatoo Recovery isn’t working. It seems to be for me, but if anyone else has trouble please let me know and I’ll have another look at it

    Reply

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