Monday, August 07, 2006
2:37
2:37 is a film that will haunt me for a long time. It's one of the most graphic and confronting films I've ever seen. I'd seen Elephant and come out ok, but 2:37 almost made me throw up, twice.
Set in an average high school on what will prove to be an eventful day, 2:37 tells interweving stories of a group of students. Each has got their problems, but no-one sees any but their own. Bullying, drugs, sexuality, eating disorders and an unwanted pregnancy all play out as the day progresses. At 2:37, one takes their own life. I spent most of the film trying to work out who & why, but even with the foreknowledge of the ultimate scenes, I was not prepared for what I saw.
It's a shame that 2:37 received an R18+ rating here in Australia, because it's a film that should be shown to high school kids. One or two small edits would do it, but the writer/director thought that editing would have reduced the impact of the film.
Margaret & David are yet to pass judgement, but here's Peter Thompson's excellent review.
See it before an inept reviewer reveals what should best be discovered, if you're ok being confronted. See it in a cinema, where you can be enveloped by the amazing sound design.
Thanks to JJJ for the preview.
[Tags: Suicide, Film, Australia]
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