Kangaroo Island
⭐️ (out of 5 stars)
Short Take: The phrase originates from the film industry and refers to a brief recording or “something that only takes a short time,” typically when a more extended version is planned for later.
Short Take review: A short review of a film with potential discussion points
‘Nothing is worthwhile; everything is futile. For what does a man get for all his hard work? Generations come and go, but it makes no difference. The sun rises and sets and hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere. . .everything is unutterably weary and tiresome.’ - Solomon
These ancient words from one of the world’s wisest men are filled with despair. His insights could just as quickly be an analysis of today’s world. If left on their own, they could be the underlying theme of the writing/directing team of Timothy David and Sally Gifford’s project, Kangaroo Island.
Summary: As an actress in Hollywood, Lou (Rebecca Breeds) has seen both sides of the industry with success and challenges. During one of her lowest career moments, the young Australian actress receives a plane ticket to go home to Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Despite resisting the invitation, she goes home to the life she left behind. One that has changed significantly with her sister Freya's (Adelaide Clemens) conversion to the Christian faith, family tensions and her father, Rory (Erik Thomson), holding onto a secret that will change all of their lives.
Review: Set against the beautiful backdrop of South Australia, the nuances of this dark familial tale show that the landscape cannot hide the darker sides of the human heart. Despite mild attempts at heartfelt moments and humour sprinkled in for relief from this heartbreaking story, Kangaroo Island proves to be one of the most hopeless and heartbreaking films of the year. With a lead character who is meant to be sympathetic, Rebecca Breeds is given a role that goes from being depressing to even more unappealing as the story unfolds. The pro-euthanasia and anti-Christian messaging become like gut-punches as broad statements about both topics and characters come into the script. Yet, the lifestyle offered up as an alternative provides no solace or appeal for anyone watching. Despite the beauty of the location and the lifestyle of South Australia, Kangaroo Island will do more to push people away from this world than draw them to this picturesque part of the world.
Reel Dialogue and Third Space have entered the world of YouVersion: Download the app, dive into the plans, and engage with the Bible in a fresh and exciting way.
Later in Ecclesiastes… ‘Anyone who is among the living has hope —even a live dog is better off than a dead lion! For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun. Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.’ -Solomon
Suppose you want to begin to explore this profoundly existential aspect of life. Within the words of Ecclesiastes, Solomon gives us the answer to where that journey starts. It all begins and ends with the fear of God and doing what he tells you.
And that's it. Eventually, God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it's good or evil. - Solomon
This is more than you expected from a film review, but this story needs more attention than a mere star rating. Begin with some time in Ecclesiastes and then follow that up with one of the biographies of Jesus.
