Australian movies always superbly shine a light on we Antipodean folk and our highly unique quirks and mannerisms. And Australian comedy movies amplify our nuanced behaviours a million times more. Exhibiting a microcosm of lives which we Australians live to the best (or do we?) of our abilities in dreamily forever-summery locales and climes. Lives that show us facets of a society that is (for better or worse) one that we are irrevocably (or are we?) contained in.
Spectacular new Australian movie, Audrey, is one such (black) comedic gem that will have you laughing, cheering and then cause you to think and reflect about this demonstrably variable world and this adventure we call ‘Life’ (as all good comedies do).
Directed by the phenomenally talented Natalie Bailey and written by the powerhouse writer, Lou Sanz, Audrey the movie focuses on the highly-flawed yet deeply loving (or are they?) Lipsick family, residing in the backblocks of suburbia on the Gold Coast. The Lipsicks are a working-class family that seems to want so much more from this life than is currently their allotment.
Middle-aged mother, Ronnie (Jackie van Beek, a brilliant New Zealand actress), is the fiery force behind the family. Back in the day she seemed to be destined for a formidable acting career (something she craved and still craves). Ronnie had a role in a soapie on television and received Logie awards in her younger days, but nothing further career-wise ever eventuated.
Now Ronnie is living her unfulfilled dreams through her eldest daughter, Audrey (Josephine Blazier), a precocious and idealistic (she wants to go and work in Nepal) seventeen year old high school student.
Ronnie is simply desperate for Audrey to make it big as an actress and is doing all she can to make that happen for Audrey. This is despite Audrey not being interested in being an actress at all.
When Audrey falls off the roof of the house during a heated argument with her mother, she falls into a coma. And now Ronnie sees herself an opportunity.
Ronnie assumes Audrey’s identity and enrolls herself in acting classes that Audrey had been meant to do. Despite her daughter’s incapacity, Ronnie finds that life for her is just getting better and better and going from strength to strength. She is finally (in her eyes) someone.
Ronnie’s husband, Cormack (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) finds his life is also improving while Audrey is in hospital. He becomes involved in the porn industry and feels a better person for it.
Audrey’s younger sister, Nora (Hannah Diviney), has cerebral-palsy and is in a wheelchair and has felt before Audrey’s accident to always play second-fiddle to Audrey in the world. Now Nora is feeling empowered, even hooking up with Audrey’s boyfriend for a time.
Are all Ronnie’s artistic dreams going to come true? Will she finally be the actress she knows she has always been destined to be?
Will Audrey come out of her coma and spoil the Lipsick family’s new-found happiness and fulfillment?
Just how badly does Ronnie want all that she feels she is owed?
Given the current turbulent state of the world, Audrey is most definitely the movie we need to be seeing now. Lou Sanz’s script shows insightful and astute observations of human nature.
Watching this movie made me feel light and happy, lifted me up and made me feel joyful. And of course the humour is fantastic. I laughed constantly throughout the film.
All of the actors in this iconic Australian movie are phenomenal, but it has to be said that Jackie van Beek as Ronnie ultimately steals the show. She is a sterling talent and is cast perfectly as Ronnie.
A hearty congratulations to Natalie Bailey, Lou Sanz and all of the cast and crew involved in the making of Audrey. You have delivered to the world a sublime example of fantastic Australian film-making. Audrey shines brightly and irrepressibly. In short, it is a diamond amongst films.
I am so proud of the Australian film industry. They always ‘have a go’ and never give up (Which is in our nature as Australians, right?).
I highly recommend Audrey, the movie. I loved it from the start to end.
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