No. 7 (2023) TRUE SPIRIT 26th Jan.

 

Film No. 7  (2023)  January 26th.  7:00 PM  EVENT CINEMAS,  Cine 5,   Innaloo.  (To be released on Netfilx Feb 3rd, 2023)

"The world can be a really difficult place, but it can be really beautiful!" (Jessica talks on her video/log; ocean surrounds her as she reflects on her solo voyage so far).

"An Aussie girl who took on the world" (the poster sub-text). Did she what! Jessica Watson aged 16 decided she had the ability to sail, solo around the world. Imagine the hoops she needed to jump through to make this dream come true. But we all know how successful she was (still no spoiler there, even if you have been living under a rock for 12 years). TRUE SPIRIT is an earnest depiction of Watson's trials and tribulations.

These films are difficult projects. Truly engaging an audience in a story where the audience knows the ultimate outcome requires a director to focus on key moments where dramatic tension uncovers the reasons our hero achieved the ultimate. Director Sarah Spillane (AROUND THE BLOCK) has done a good job creating those moments. The proof of that pudding comes when there are a couple of legitimate "tissue" moments as Jessica steps onto terra firma  and is reunited with her family after her 210 days at sea.   

 

TRUE SPIRIT is a re-tell of Watson's book of the same name. The film captures the warm relationships she has with family and sailing mentor, Ben Bryant (Cliff Curtis). Bryant and her family gave her the "wings" she needed to embark on what many perceived as fool-hardy and a death sentence. Anna Paquin and Josh Lawson as Jessica's parents underplay their roles as loving but sensible people with aplomb. There is never a sense of ego or lack of rationality from anyone along the way. Spillane builds a legitimate bonded unit which ultimately answered all those questions that surrounded the public outcry for the government to step in and put a halt to the ridiculousness of Watson's attempt. 

Ultimately the brilliance of TRUE SPIRIT is to make you comprehend the size of some of the waves this solo 16 year old sailor encountered on her journey. The film has captured all the ocean scenes brilliantly. I was lucky enough to catch SPIRIT on a cinema screen. I was truly frightened for Watson and her tiny pink vessel during a number of  big sea CGI generated scenes in the darkened theatre. The tense moments here, work.

TRUE SPIRIT will make for invigorating family viewing once it begins it's life this week as another solid Netflix feature film.   8GUMS.