Romulus, My Father

By Jason Tozer     

The relationship between a father and son is brilliantly explored and deliberately exposed in Romulus, My Father , a movie based on the biographical memoir of the same name by Australian philosopher Raimond Gaita.

Eric Bana plays Romulus, Raimond's father, a man tortured by his love for his unfaithful and depressive wife but steeled by his unwavering responsibility and love for his son.

Raimond, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee, is barely into his second decade of life but has a soul much older as he is drawn into the problems of his parents, especially those of his mother, which eat away his innocence.

Unsure about his feelings for his mother Christina (Franka Potente), Raimond is torn between the emptiness he feels when she is gone and the insecurity she exudes when she is around.

He searches for an understanding to why she acts the way she does, so often hurting his father, but is ultimately limited in his search by what childhood naivety he has left.

Set in the early 1960s, the film is a wonderful period piece that peers into the trials of an immigrant family trying to ground themselves in Australia. More than this though, it is an exploration of a troubled childhood and the unbreakable bond between a father and his son.

First time director Richard Roxburgh has done brilliantly using his more creative shots to further the narrative or communicate the thoughts and feelings of the characters. He has a stunning backdrop to work with and highlights the bittersweet nature of the Victorian countryside.

Based on a book of childhood memories, that is exactly how Roxburgh lets the film communicate. Scenes that the audience can empathise most with often have the least dialogue and are more emotional because of their simple yet stunning visuals.

The film undoubtedly belongs to Kodi Smit McPhee. While Bana turns in one of his best big screen performances, McPhee steals every minute he is on screen. With the perfect mix of innocence, mischief and melancholy he plays Raimond with the range of emotions of an actor many years his senior.

This is one of the best films you will see this year, and definitely one of the best Australian films you will ever see. It is emotional and thought provoking but more than that it will stay with you like your very own memory. In limited release, Romulus, My Father is worth making the effort to see.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

This review first appeared in the Queanbeyan Age

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