Soft Fruit (1999)

reviewed by
Greg King


SOFT FRUIT (M).  
(Twentieth Century Fox)
Director: Christina Andreef
Stars: Jeanie Drynan, Russell Dykstra, Genevieve Lemon, Sacha Horler, 
Alicia Talbot, Linal Haft
Running time: 101 minutes.

Some of the more common themes among recent Australian films have been dysfunctional family relationships and mortality (Crackers, Radiance, etc). Soft Fruit is an emotionally draining drama that combines both these elements in a story that is honest, warm, compassionate, unexpectedly funny and upbeat, yet somehow endearing.

Soft Fruit is the first feature film from Christina Andreef, an acclaimed short film maker and former assistant to Jane Campion, whose films include the festival favourite Shooting The Breeze.

When their mother Patsy (Jeanie Drynan, from Muriel's Wedding, etc) is diagnosed with terminal cancer, her four children return home to Port Kembla to help care for her. Divorcee Nadia (Sacha Horler, from Praise) returns home from Sydney, bringing her two kids with her, while the bossy Josie (Genevieve Lemon, from Sweetie, etc) flies home from America. Although Vera (Alicia Talbot) has moved out of the family home she still lives in the same town and works as a nurse in the local hospital. Also returning home is family black sheep Bo (Russell Dykstra), who is briefly paroled from prison on compassionate grounds.

It's a trying time for all, as old rivalries and tensions and frustrations again bubble to the surface. Dad (Linal Haft) resents their noisy presence, and quickly banishes Bo to the woodshed. Yet this tragic gathering also provides an opportunity for painful healing and reconciliation. Resigned to her fate, Patsy is determined to bring the family together again no matter what.

Andreef explores emotionally-laden terrain with sensitivity and understanding and presents us with flawed but readily identifiable characters. Soft Fruit explores the family dynamics with an insight rare in Australian film, and Andreef taps into some honest emotions here.

She also beautifully focuses on that strong and strange bond that seems to exist between mother and son. While the three sisters argue about medications and diets, and tiptoe around their terminally ill mother, Bo brings with him a healthy and cynical irreverence that is as much a tonic for Patsy as her regular doses of morphine. He reads to her from her beloved biography about the tragic Jackie O, and helps her fulfill her wish to live her remaining time to the fullest. He even sneaks her out of the house for a wonderful day at the beach, and does an illicit drug deal while the pair are out shopping for coffins.

Soft Fruit is occasionally episodic in nature, but the film is held together by the luminous performances of the ensemble cast. In particular, the brilliant and vital performance of Drynan, who suffuses her performance with warmth, humour and sensitivity, dominates proceedings. In his first major screen role theatre veteran Dykstra is superb as the volatile and complex Bo, combining his dangerous edge with a real sense of compassion and understanding. Despite solid work from Horler, Lemon and Talbot, the three sisters ultimately seem to become indistinguishable by the end of the film.

Soft Fruit is one of the best locally produced films of this year, and its honesty and humanity should strike a strong responsive chord with audiences.

***1/2
greg king
http://www.netau.com.au/gregking

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