Lucky Country
It's 1902, and things have already begun to unravel for Nat and his two children. His wife (their mother) has died a month beforehand, but Nat, driven by stolid faith, intends to fulfil his fate: to build a farm in the remote bushland of Australia.
His young daughter Sarah, and even younger son, Tom, are obviously concerned for their father's welfare and, in turn, their own, especially given their remote location. Despite his stoicism, their father appears to be becoming increasingly unstable.
One evening, three men turn up, needing shelter for the youngest of the trio to recover from a mysterious malady.
But who are these men? Why are they there, and what do they want? This film is a stylish study of greed and brutality - greed that drove people to the harsh environment of the bush in search of fortune; and the inevitable brutality borne of that greed, and of desperation. On another level, it's Tom's coming-of-age story.
The production design is excellent, as is the story and its execution. Aden Young, who shot to prominence after appearing in Bruce Beresford's Black Robe in the early nineties, seemed to have disappeared, but thankfully has been busier of late (on both sides of the camera), and is very good as Nat. Hannah Mangan Lawrence, brilliant in her small role in the Edgerton Brothers' The Square, is outstanding here. It's virtually impossible not to feel terrified for her character, who is painfully aware that she is ultimately at the mercy of these men. Her brother is too young to understand, and her father is too unstable to adequately protect her. Yet, in the face of danger, she can't help but be drawn to one of the men: the youngest, who lies sweating and ill in the barn. Toby Wallace, as Tom, is a most promising newcomer.
Those who don't normally enjoy rugged historical dramas would be strongly advised to make an exception with Lucky Country: it's a suspenseful and ultimately moving tale.