Soft Fruit

This story of a family reunion on the occasion of the mother’s impending death reminded me of Sweetie (1989) for its tragi-comic portrayal of working-class suburban Australia (it’s set in Port Kembla, NSW). So it’s not surprising that the director of that film, Jane Campion, executive produced this or that director Christina Andreef was Campion’s longtime AD including on Sweetie. (In addition the star of that film, Genevieve Lemon, appears here as the eldest of the sisters.

Soft Fruit was a critical success picking up a number of international awards as well as an AFI award for Best Lead Actor for Russell Dykstra and Best Actress in a Supporting Role which went to Sacha Horler for her exuberant performance. It is a well-crafted film (would one expect less from a Campion-school graduate?) although, critical praise aside, too neat in resolving its various conflicts and, certainly in terms of popular appreciation, Russell Dykstra’s Bo, although providing the film’s most interesting moments, is too dysfunctional for a film which otherwise belongs firmly within our nationally-identifiable ‘quirky comedy’ classification.

FYI: The film did not do well at the local box-office, grossing just under $400K, whilst completely tanking in the U.S. If you like this kind of material check out Radiance  directed by Rachel Perkins (1998) and Bruce Beresford's Crimes of the Heart (1986).

 

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