HEAD ON Cast: Alex Dimitriades, Paul Capsis, Julian Garner, Tony Nikolakopoulos, Elena Mandalis, Marķa Mercedes Director: Ana Kokkinos Screenplay: Andrew Bovell, Ana Kokkinos and Mira Robertson, based on the novel 'Loaded' by Christos Tsiolkas Reviewed by Luke Buckmaster
On the Buckmaster scale of 0 stars (bomb), to 5 stars (a masterpiece): 4 stars
My first reaction after viewing Head On was to take a long, deep breath.
Ana Kokkinos' fiery Melbourne-based film is a tense and bold character study - one that is almost haunting in its realism. Perhaps the most daring of its production assets is the film's dramatic script, which positions its protagonist in various off-putting homosexual, confrontational and drug induced acts. Disturbing stuff, that's for sure - and Kokkinos knows it. The reason why Head On is so uncomfortable to watch is because its director knows how to use unsettling images for intrigue, not for shock appeal. This is a powerhouse Australian film that is in many ways more confronting than the likes of Saving Private Ryan, for the reason that it depicts issues that are very real in today's society. Kokkinos boldly looks at sexuality, ethnicity, drugs and gender in a raw and explicit manner. With tight editing and a rigid, unusually urban cinematography, Head On is a grating piece that explores the dissatisfaction of youth, and society in general.
Ari (Alex Dimitriades) is a nineteen-year-old Greek bisexual, who is confused by life and constantly searches for a path to happiness. He doesn't find it in drugs or alcohol, nor does he in regular and unsatisfying sex. The film chronicles one day in Ari's life, an intense twenty-four hours full of pain and occasional joy. Ari realizes the pathetic state of his life but fails to do anything about it - one gets the feeling that he is so far down and out that he will never quite be able to regain status. Ari has pushed on, day by day, meeting men and women, and not thinking about what life might offer him. He is too busy taking everything a step at a time in the busy city of Melbourne (at one moment, much to my delight, there are shots of Flinders Street Station and Crown Casino).
Ari's character works because of the revealing screenplay (which was adapted from the novel 'Loaded') and Alex Dimitriades' gutsy performance. I thought that Russel Crowe's choice of role in 1994's The Sum of Us was game, but compared to this it looks ordinary. Dimitriades is one hell of a brave actor. Limiting the emotional success of this story is its lack of characters; aside from Ari, there is really nobody else the audience can relate with. But perhaps this is done intentionally, as Ari alone provides the basis for an intriguing character study since he is such a complicated person. His actions are not always understandable - but that's how people are sometimes. Whenever his life seems to be lightening up (if only for a few moments), we are brought down once again into his depressing state of affairs.
Some of the final words spoken by Alex Dimitriades are cynical and somber considering all that we have witnessed his character go through, yet they express the moving and painful expression that this film generates. "I'm sliding toward the sewer, not struggling, I can smell the shit - but I'm still breathing. I'm gonna live my life. I'm not going to make a difference, I'm not going to change a thing."
If you're feeling brave, take a long, deep breath and watch Head On.
Read more of my reviews at In Film Australia http://infilmau.iah.net
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