No. 1. (2021) THE FURNACE January 4th.

 

Film No. 1 (2021)  January 4th.  1:45 PM.  Cinema 2  LUNA Leederville.

"This land has taken all I had. I will not go back empty handed".(Hanif explains to Mal why taking his share is important to him as he plans to eventually return to Afghanistan).

This fictionalized western, depicting a time in Western Australia's little known past is low key and yet quite captivating. I say quite because there was one plot hole which baffled me slightly.   

Just prior to the turn of the century, the only way larger goods could be transported in the barren, gold encrusted regions of W.A. was by camel. The British enticed Indians, Iranians and Afghanis along with their camels to the parched land to move the goods. We meet Hanif (Ahmad Malek) an Afghan camel handler. He is our hero in every sense, but we soon learn he will carry a heavy weight both physically and emotionally due to unforeseen circumstances which occur in the opening scenes of The Furnace.

A key circumstance during the time Hanif is adjusting to his changed world comes as he stumbles across a wounded Mal (David Wenham). Mal is a rogue transporting stolen gold to Kalgoorlie, for smelting. He is the only survivor of an attack on his party. Hanif decides to help Mal without fully comprehending that Mal's promise of a share in his spoils is laden with complications. 

As well as the pursuing police posse, Mal has a mysterious  pursuer that is never fully fleshed out. What is the story behind this lanky, angular man? This triviality aside, Roderick MacKay has burst on the scene with a debut feature film of substance. A Western Australian artist unafraid to bring his state to the world with such visual and narrative brilliance is to be commended. See The Furnace on a great big screen if you can, that is where you'll experience the full effect. 

Further research beyond the rolling titles suggests Mackay has also made an eloquent statement about tolerance and multiculturalism which further questions the thoughtless manner in which the British Empire invaded this land. 10GUMS.