Film No. 91 (2023) THE ROYAL HOTEL. 3rd Dec.

 

Film No. 91  (2023)  December 3rd.  12:10 PM  EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 7,  Innaloo.

"We have sunshine and booze in a box. Let's put up with it for a few weeks, make some cash. It'll toughen us up" (Liv raises her glass while summarizing how the next two weeks might turn out).

NOMINEE: Best Film (Kitty Green) Official Competition London Film Festival.

Kitty Green and Julia Garner bring their chemistry to an Australian setting in THE ROYAL HOTEL. Garner's, Hannah, is a very charismatic character and while she doesn't quite meet the heights of her Jane in THE ASSITANT, TRH would not be the film it is, without her. But while Kitty Green was inspired to make TRH after watching HOTEL COOLGARDIE, that engaging documentary possessed nothing of the fear Green instils here. 

Kitty Green seemingly has plenty to say about young female vulnerability in toxic male environments. That is, if we are to go by her two, non-documentary features so far. The brooding, THE ASSISTANT scared the pants off most, for what we didn't see, through the eyes of Jane. THE ROYAL seems to want us to feel the same, this time through Hannah. Does it work? No, and worst of all the ending is both tabloid and disrespectful. 

Disrespectful from the POV that she has taken an aspect of Australian life that existed as a norm 25 years ago. To build a fear of outback Australia for potential visitors in contemporary times, in such a crass manner is surprisingly naïve. The vast majority of small outposts running socially welcoming drinking and eating establishments are worth experiencing. Most travelling backpackers have no regrets about their experiences in remote corners of "that land down under". The thing is, Green has made a naturalistic drama, not a psychological, slasher.

Green does have an excellent eye for character and casting. Billy, the alcohol dependent publican is an example here. Hugo Weaving is excellent as a man with exceptionally low expectations of life. Trapped! Jack Thompson's Foley came to mind in one of my favourite Aussie films, capturing the "groundhog hog" existence of an outback shearer in SUNDAY TOO FAR AWAY. And the ending ... well maybe that is the girl's gift to Billy and his loyal friend Carol (Ursula Yovich).    

I'm glad I saw ROYAL H. Go see it, it is a well made film. Kitty Green is a good film-maker who fills the screen with tight, no-nonsense images and a narrative to match. To come back to her country of birth and create another feature of substance and bring with her an actor of Garner's quality is cool! I can't wait for Green's next creation.   8GUMS.