West

I went to bed early last night hoping for some much needed sleep. Instead I stayed up much later than necessary because I got hooked watching an Australian film called West.

I believe it would be called "gritty, Australian drama" in reviews and it was both gritty and very Australian.

The "west" refers to Western Sydney, where this story is set. An area which is on my doorstep but which I don't really know at all.

I really enjoyed this well written, well directed, well acted little film. It was a great big smack in the face with a slice of social realism.

It was what I like in a film: a good, simple story, nicely told, with a final scene which makes you go "aahhaa". This story went a full circle and it was elegantly done. A small gesture in the last moment making everything click into place. I so admire that in a script.

Daniel Krige, the South African born writer and director, doesn't seem to have done anything else after this 2007 production which seems a shame as he seems to have some real talent.