The Widower (film)
2004 Australian film
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The Widower is a 2004 Australian film based on the poetry of Les Murray and directed by Kevin Lucas. It has no dialogue, instead using operatic-style music in its place.[1] Lyndon Terracini wrote the screenplay and performed the vocals with Slava Grigoryan on guitar. The score was composed by Elena Kats-Chernin.[2] When the film first opened, many of the screenings were accompanied by live music.[3]
| The Widower | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kevin Lucas |
| Written by | Lyndon Terracini |
| Based on | Poetry of Les Murray |
| Produced by | Aanya Whitehead |
| Starring | Chris Haywood Frances Rings |
| Cinematography | Kim Batterham |
| Edited by | Kevin Lucas |
| Music by | Elena Kats-Chernin |
Release date |
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Running time | 60 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
Plot
A woodcutter mourns his dead wife.
Cast
- Chris Haywood as Neville
- Frances Rings as Mary
- Matt Dyall as Blake
- Blake Pittman as Young Blake
- Djakapurra Munyarryun
- Jay Bailey
- Tony Barry
- Ben Harkin
Reception
The Age's John Slavin writes "I don't think it has made up its mind whether it is a poetic elegy for bush life or a character study of the bushman. Haywood's superb performance emphasises the second approach."[2] The Herald Sun gave it two stars, saying that "Director Kevin Lucas often settles for a far-too-literal interpretation of his source, which only invites the unwelcome (but not totally unwarranted) accusation that this isn't much more than a pretentiously highbrow music video."[4] Paul Lepetit of the Daily Telegraph gave it three stars, saying "Almost contemplative at times, The Widower exercises a mesmerising effect upon its audience; for the most part, it is a delicate combination of high art and fine cinema."[5] Reviewing in The Australian, Evan Williams gives it 3 1/2 stars sand said "The film as a whole, however -- fragmentary, impressionistic, essentially plotless -- never quite lives up to its high ambitions."[6] Paul Byrnes of the Sydney Morning Herald finishes his review with a similar conclusion, "The film still has a power – Haywood's performance is magnificent – but it never achieves a strong inner reality. It falls short of its own tall ambitions."[7]
Awards
- 2005 AFI Awards
- Best Adapted Screenplay - Lyndon Terracini - nominated[8]