When I read the synopsis for this movie I had an inkling about what I’d be watching, a ghost story or something supernatural perhaps … I was wrong, kind of.
thanks to Madman
The early scenes of A Month of Sundays introduces Frank Mollard (Anthony LaPaglia) a real estate agent in a slump, something current agents might relate to given the current economic conditions. However Mollard doesn’t have that excuse, he’s operating within an Australian property boom. Perhaps his depressive attitude born out of divorce, an inability to connect with his son and the recent passing of his mother, has something to do with it. His attitude hasn’t gone unnoticed by his boss Phillip Lang (John Clarke) who points out that something has to change.
But Mollard can’t drum up excitement for anything in his life, as shown by the droll internal monologue the audience is privy to. Every time he enters a new house his internal monotone monologue describes each room, it’s dimensions, vintage, style and potential buyers. He’s an unemotional walking real estate advertisement.
One day after work his house phone rings and so begins a long conversation with his mother … his dead mother. From then on everything changes.
thanks to Madman
A Month Of Sundays is a movie about mundane life, about loss, regrets, love, mistrust of others, fathers and sons, not realising what you’ve got until it’s gone, Shakespeare and real estate. It is a clever balance of dry wit and intense sadness set in suburban Australian. As the tagline says ‘everyone deserves a second chance even real estate agents.’
Director Matthew Saville had his own observation about whether it is a ghost story …
“It isn’t. But later, I realized that it is. I realized that Frank Mollard – my protagonist, my real estate agent – is, in fact, a ghost. A MONTH OF SUNDAYS is, then, probably, about a ghost coming back to the world. Frank Mollard, at the beginning of the film, isn’t in the world. He is by the end. At the end of the film, he is standing on a “welcome” mat. Or, put another way, the film traces the journey of a middle aged, divorced salesman realizing that he can, if he tries, leave a legacy. He can, if he cares, be kind. He can, if he wants to, honour other peoples’ need to make a mark, here. He can, if he holds fast, make homes.’
thanks to Madman
LaPaglia’s contained performance is masterful, especially when delivering one of the many hilarious real estate catchphrases, ‘Yes … subject to council approval.’
The interactions between Clarke and LaPaglia are reminiscent of Clarke’s short television pieces, suggesting the role could only have been written for him.
Julia Blake is wonderful as ‘mother’ Sarah and Justine Clarke plays Mallards’ television star wife Wendy Mollard perfectly.
As the lights came up I pondered …
- The interactions between Clark and LaPaglia are reason enough to see this movie.
- Another Australian movie well worth seeing.
- Anyone working in sales will love this, especially real estate agents.
- The internal monologue is a brilliant device. It could easy relate to anyone who’s been in the same job for too long.
- One warning, this could be a bit of a difficult movie for anyone who has recently lost a family member.
- It will make you rush home and hug your loved ones.
A Month Of Sundays is now on at Luna Cinemas.
