Flathead is a 2024 docu-fiction film directed by Jaydon Martin about working-class Australian life. The film premiered at the 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam, where it won a Special Jury Award in the Tiger Competition.
| Flathead | |
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| Directed by | Jaydon Martin |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Brodie Poole |
| Edited by | Patrick McCabe |
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Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
Synopsis
editFlathead tells the story of an elderly man returning home to Bundaberg and dealing with grief, among a group of working-class people.[1][2]
Cast
edit- Cass Cumerford
- Andrew Wong
- Rob Sheean
- Hayden Rimmington
- Kent Wong
- Miguel Angel Jitale D'amico
- Tim Lunnon
- Adama Suviste
- Jake Samaya
- Venerable Lama Karma Vajrasambhava Rinpoche
Production
editFlathead is directed by Jaydon Martin, an Australian-born artist and filmmaker. In the UK, he developed behind the scenes documentaries for the BBC Wales, National Theatre of Wales, and Artes Mundi.[1]
Amiel Courtin-Wilson and Chloe Brugale were executive producers.[3]
The film was shot in the town of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.[4][5]
Release
editThe film premiered at the 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam in February 2024.[6]
It also screened at the Sydney Film Festival in June 2024.[1]
Critical reception
editPeter Bradshaw, reviewing for The Guardian, rated the film with 4 stars out of 5 and wrote "Jaydon Martin makes an outstanding feature debut with this absorbing, moving and visually beautiful docufiction... The film’s poetry resides in its thoughtful inactivity, its vernacular spirituality and its gentleness."[7]
Wendy Ide, writing for ScreenDaily, said "The film is an unvarnished, but striking account of life in this working class community."[8]
Martin Kudlac of Screen Anarchy wrote "Flathead exhibits a level of formal polish uncharacteristic of a straightforward documentary, yet its decentralized and loosely structured approach sets it apart from conventional fiction cinema."[9]
Shane Danielsen, writing in The Monthly, described the film as "Elegant, patient and humane". Carmen Gray wrote in the Sight and Sound's Weekly Film Bulletin about the film: "The docufiction, with its distinctive vision of spiritual questing in a poor part of Queensland, maximised absurdist detail and laidback sardonic wit while still conferring dignity on its subjects".[10]
Accolades
editFlathead won the Tiger Competition Special Jury Award at the 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam,[6] with Variety reporting the jury's comments on the film: "calm but touching execution ... a naturalistic and realistic film at its best".[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Flathead". Sydney Film Festival. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Flathead (2024)". Letterboxd. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Flathead (2024) | MUBI". Mubi. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Marsellos, Brad (19 April 2021). "Bundaberg in focus as indie filmmaker gets hooked on filming Flathead". ABC News. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Marsellos, Brad (19 October 2020). "Independent film Flathead to be shot in Bundaberg to focus on 'that guy you see at the end of the bar'". ABC News. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ a b Kaludjercic, Vanja (2024). "Flathead". International Film Festival Rotterdam.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (29 January 2024). "Flathead review – a beautiful meditation on life in rural Queensland". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Ide, Wendy (29 January 2024). "'Flathead': Rotterdam Review". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Kudlac, Martin (4 February 2024). "Rotterdam 2024 Review: FLATHEAD, Australian Pastoral". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "WFB Extra: Reporting from Rotterdam". www.bfimessages.org.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Ross, Rafa Sales (2 February 2024). "Tanaka Toshihiko's 'Rei' Wins Rotterdam Tiger Award, 'Flathead' and 'Kiss Wagon' Take Jury Prizes". Variety. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
