Film No. 89 (2023) SWEET SUE. 28th Nov.

 

Film No. 89  (2023)  November 28th.  11:30 AM  PALACE Raine Sq, Cinema 3, Perth City.

"You can live life one of two ways. You can live it like wood. You can live it like water." (Ronald, Sue's new flame, expounds a simple theory on life after acceding to Sue's request to ride with him on his motor bike).

NOMINEE  (Leo Leigh) Best Film by an Emerging Director. Munich Film Festival (2023).

Leo Leigh comes from good film-maker pedigree. Mike Leigh (SECRETS AND LIES), his dad, is a great, when it comes to the creation of dramatic, observational cinema. Is it likely Leo will follow in his dad's footsteps? There are definitely similarities, so I think so. I certainly hope so. I enjoyed SWEET SUE. This is Leo's first foray into observational, dramatic feature film making. In the past he has made more of a mark via documentaries and short films.

Now, SWEET SUE will not be a film for all. 50% of the audience I shared the screen with, walked out within 45 minutes. A fly on the wall drama about glass half full, baby boomer Sue (Maggie O'Neill) going back into the dating scene to hopefully find a partner she can spend the rest of her days with, is perhaps not layered in potential storyline to tantalise. But if you like your cinema to be edgy, slightly experimental and with the potential for a very unconventional bitter/sweet ending, don't miss SWEET SUE.

Maggie O'Neill who made her name in EAST ENDERS, plays  Sue, and she gives us a deep view of Sue as a likeable lady who may have been a wonderful mother, but never was. Luck and sliding door moments seem to have ruled her destiny. Harry Trevaldwyn as Anthony, in his first major feature role is devastatingly good. His performance is the prime reason viewers left my screening. He is there to antagonise everyone experiencing SWEET SUE; audience and characters alike. He does a brilliant job. 

And the bitter sweet ending? It is one of my highlight endings in '23. The smile on Sue's face as she decides how she will deal with her latest predicament is all knowing.   9GUMS.