No. 80. (2019) Animals. August 31st.

Film No 80 (2019) August 31st.  10:45 AM  LUNA PALACE Leederville. 

Girls are tied to beds for two reasons:Sex and exorcisms. So which is it with you? (The opening lines of Animals, delivered by Tyler as she wanders into Laura's room, observes the predicament her housemate is in and thus makes her enquiry).

Accomplished Australian director Sophie Hyde (52 Tuesdays) takes to the international stage with this tale of friendship. Given the theme of the friendship of two early thirties women, built on boozy romps through and around the streets of Dublin, the slice of life drama is quite endearing. Hyde has an intelligent way of connecting her characters with her audience. Odd couple housemates Laura (Holliday Grainger) and Tyler (Alia Shawkat) seem not to have a care in the world as A grade party ANIMALS, that is until Laura becomes side-tracked emotionally (a couple of times). Does she "grow-up" and age gracefully? Where will life as Tyler's sidekick end? Is that fox she spies roaming the streets of Dublin a sign? Either way the themes of Animals must ring true to many young extroverts, (mainly extroverts) who must grapple with life after partying. And isn't that what film is all about? Pricking one's consciousness? Hyde along with writer Emma Jane Unsworth (screenplay and novel) have created a splendid small budget film. Although I still haven't worked out the significance of the fox! 10GUMS.