South Solitary

South Solitary has a peculiar, old-fashioned sensibility and is distinguished more by its terrific cinematography rather than any dramatically unusual thematic interest. Barrett has not made a film since Love Serenade (1996), a film which also dealt with love in the middle of nowhere. The trouble with this overly-long film is that not a lot happens in the early parts. Meredith arrives in a boat with a lamb in her lap and through this lamb meets Nettie, a peculiar and ultimately unlikeable little girl. There is a moment of sudden tension when the winch dragging Meredith’s belongings up a very steep slope jams and threatens to squash everyone in its path, and then again when Harry starts getting a bit feisty with Meredith, who obviously has some sort of dubious past but that is as much as Barrett concedes to dramatic action.

Its strengths however are twofold – the acting, especially from the father and daughter Otto team is terrific, as is Czokas as the tense, serious and taciturn Fleet (he effects an excellent Welsh accent). The creation of the setting and mood however is really outstanding. The film was shot around Point Nelson in Victoria, and at the Cape Otway lighthouse. We truly get the feel of how claustrophobic and isolated such a life must be. Supplies come irregularly, mutton bird is the main meat, and being ill is a disaster.

The lighthouse itself is almost like a character, and the spectacular angled shots of the giant lantern inside its prismatic glass are very impressive, as are the many views of the circular staircase within the lighthouse. The actual space in the edifice, especially when two leads are sharing a watch, is cramped, to say the least, and the filming style makes us feel this weird sense of the occupants being thrown together in a sort of forced intimacy. The feel of the 1920s, especially with costuming, is strong and Miranda Otto has just the right look for the era. (Look out fashionistas – here comes tweed!)

When real action happens it is a long way into the film, and involves, of course, a storm – a near hurricane which is dangerous to the extreme, but augments the film’s rare moments of dramatic tension, along with some comic results to do with the outhouse.

There are also tender and whimsical moments, such as the pet lamb wearing a pink bonnet, and the poignant revelation of Meredith’s one-time fiancé. She is in many ways a foolish young woman who gives her favours away too lightly, perhaps in a desperate search for connection or affection.

To its credit, the ending is nicely unpredictable, but overall whilst I found South Solitary a ‘pleasant' film, I was left a little underwhelmed.

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