Shortly, in each of the capital cities around Australia, the Australian Film Institute is hosting its 50th annual film festival. During the annual festival, members will get to see a vast array of Australian filmmaking, in different categories, and register their votes which count to the celebrated AFI awards night. This year there are some 25 feature films in contention for the top award. One of the films set to feature on the big night is Peter Duncan (‘Children of the Revolution’) fine new film ‘Unfinished Sky’.

In ‘Unfinished Sky’, William McInnes plays farmer John Woldring who whilst out driving near his property comes across a beautiful but badly injured migrant woman, Tahmeena (Monic Hendrickx) stumbling along the road. He takes her home, planning to nurse her back to some sort of health, and then let her go on her way. The best laid plans of men however….

‘Unfinished Sky’ is one of those love stories where you’d bet almost anything that there’s just too many factors going against a match being made. On one side you have Woldring, a vastly secretive, aloof man who has something of a dark past, his wife having died in mysterious circumstances, In one way, it is a miracle that he even picks up Tahmeena from the side of the road.

On the other side is Tahmeena, an illegal immigrant who has been working in a brothel since her arrival, and has been badly emotionally and physically abused. She can hardly speak a word of English, is deeply fearful and distrustful, and a very unlikely candidate for romance.

Peter Duncan’s direction from a fine screenplay by Kees van der Hulst is assured. There’s plenty of fuel to get the dramatic fire burning, and he fans the flames well as the story builds up to a fierce climax and poignant resolution. The two leads are great; William McInnes always has a strong cinematic presence, and Dutch born newcomer Monic Hendrickx impresses. In the supporting cast, David Field stood out as the intimidating, corrupt cop, Carl.