★★★☆
Down Under isn’t another nostalgia piece about the Cronulla riots. It’s a commentary not just on racism, but also on our nation’s cultural capital at its worst. Cleverly set on the day after the riots in 2005, the film follows two sets of hoons – one Anglo, one Lebanese – as they seek revenge and retribution on the streets of the Shire.
Shit-Stick (Alexander England) is happy punching cones and working at the local Blockbuster, but is intimidated by Jason (Damon Herriman) into rounding the troops and sweeping the streets for Lebs. Shit-Stick’s cousin Evan (Chris Bunton) and Ned Kelly-loving mate Ditch (Justin Rosniak) come along for the ride.
In parallel, the studious Hassim (Lincoln Younes) is conned by street-tough Nick (Rahel Romahn) to join their cause with Hassim’s crazy import uncle Ibrahim (Michael Denkha) and wannabe beatboxer D-Mac (Fayssal Bazzi). The two gangs are looking for the same thing, yet neither really knows what or where it is. As each crew bungles their journey further, by the time they finally cross paths hell has already broken loose and everything is beyond shithouse.
It’s a clever take on racism not told just from the Anglo or migrant perspective, but from the midpoint at which both sides are exactly the same. While it may rely a little too much on convention to get its point across and caricature to find its humour, the film deftly inhabits a tonal space that bridges screwball comedy and actual suspense, almost like a black comedy/thriller.
While it might be a hard sell, Down Under boasts a broad appeal for the more academic viewer to the popcorn crowd, while cleverly avoiding being all things to all people. With the right combination of cinema hype and rental word-of-mouth, this has the capacity to become another Australian classic.
Down Underopens in cinemas on Thursday August 11.
