Is this the real world, or is this just fantasy?
In Martin McKenna’s Melbourne based independently produced feature film, IS THIS THE REAL WORLD?, his protagonist doesn’t think much of the real world, a sphere of compromise, chaos, and anything but carefree’.
Mark Blazey, skateboard iconoclast in his first year at a new school, is caught in the landslide of life, between ailing grandma, struggling single mum and jailbird delinquent older brother. His escape from reality is is doing what most teenage boys do. Stack on the surly.At his new school he puts up with the bullying of the “jocks” and attracts the eye of Kim, the headmaster’s daughter.
He’s just a simple boy, doesn’t need any sympathy, he’s easy come and easy go, anyway the wind blows, doesn’t really matter to him.
It’s not that Mark doesn’t like school, it’s the principal of the thing. The principal, asks for co-operation, but the surly adolescent sees that as controlling. And so a battle of wills ensues, that drags the educator down to the level of the delinquent.
Ironically, the teen and the teacher are dealing with similar domestic situations, but instead of being simpatico they are at loggerheads, the old elk and young buck locking horns in the school grounds, a clash that exacerbates when his daughter takes off with the malcontent for a motel muck around.
Sean Keenan, a veteran of the TV series, Puberty Blues, is striking on the big screen, Karvan-esque in photogenic and acting acting chops, while fellow Puberty Blueser, Charlotte Best shines as Kim.
As Kim’s dad and Mark’s nemesis, Greg Stone gives a terrific end of his tether performance, a sympathetic portrayal that could have drowned in caricature.
Mark’s out of control jail-bound brother is played with manic exuberance by Matt Colwell, aka 360, the rap/hip hop artist.
Julia Blake imparts her ever reliable grace and gravitas as Mark’s grievously ill grandmother, and Susie Porter gives a fire cracker characterisation of his mum whose short fuse is kept doused with cask wine.
Nice work too from Elise MacDougall as Mark’s little sister, who seems to be the only sane and level headed person in the story.
Simmering tensions that achieve a slow boil over between the student and the teacher, between the son and his mother, and between the two star crossed lovers, mark an assured feature film debut by Martin McKenna.
In a fair and just box office world, IS THIS THE REAL WORLD? deserves a battalion of bums on seats. In the real world, it’s limited theatrical release will deny its potential audience. In Sydney, it may just be screening at the Ritz in Randwick. So, blitz the Ritz!
http://www.ritzcinema.com.au/Page/Home
http://www.isthistherealworldfilm.com/