24/05/2007
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 123 minutes
Set in the Australian town of the same name, Jindabyne follows the story of a close-knit group of family and friends, all of whom are struggling with life in some capacity. Stewart (Gabriel Byrne) and three male friends leave their families for their annual fishing trip to the outback and, on arriving, discover the corpse of an aborigine girl floating in the river. Rather than spoil their trip, they decide to continue fishing for the weekend and report it once they return to town. On returning, their negligence becomes a scandalous local news story and they are reprimanded by the community at large. This puts a great strain between the men and their families and causes tension between the white and aborigine communities.
Jindabyne leaves much to the mind of the viewer. Many of the characters have histories that are only hinted at and it allows much speculation about the way each of them copes with the fallout. Laura Linney puts in a spectacular turn as Claire, Stewart’s wife, who is so disturbed by her husband’s actions that she feels compelled to try to help the mourning family of the girl.
The film is based on a short story by Raymond Carver whose realistic and minimalist style is represented well by Ray Lawrence’s direction. The natural acting and directing create a truly immersive atmosphere which is only spoiled by the disappointing final minutes. Otherwise, Jindabyne is a thought-provoking and well-realised drama, with a the moral quandary that is likely to provoke much fierce debate between friends and loved ones.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Jindabyne is released in the UK on May 25th 2007
David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
