Walking on Water
Directed by Tony Ayres.
This is an Australian film in quite a few senses: it’s set in Sydney, has some characters from Kangaroo Island and features three gay men, one of whom dies of AIDS within the first ten minutes. Directed by Tony Ayres and written by Roger Monk, it tells the story of friends and family left behind.
Gavin (David Bonney) wants to be assisted to die. His two friends Charlie (Vince Colosimo) and headstrong, dominant Anna (Maria Theodorakis) live with him. Vince’s boyfriend is the somewhat younger, somewhat more successful and cuter Frank (Nicholas Bishop) and the differences between them become apparent as we see more and more of the movie.
Gavin’s mother Margaret (Judi Farr) is pushed into the background by Anna’s monopolistic involvement in everything, from funeral flowers to her gaining Gavin’s house via the will. Her other son, Simon, has also brought his young family to see his brother off. They leave earlier than he, allowing him to luxuriate in his newfound independence: he sleeps with Anna and goes out to a nightclub where he overdoses.
It’s full of sharp humour and observations about people. It tries to pick at the human side of loss and to show us the little ways and things through which life goes on. It’s a low-budget local production but definitely fun to watch.
Felix Staica
