So long as we see our first priority as being ‘supportive’ to our film industry, Australia will continue to make a tidy, annual set of movies that nobody wants to watch.
Failed film Palm Beach was meant to be an Aussie version of The Big Chill. Universal Sony
Opening night at last year’s Sydney Film Festival drew the usual crowd of special invitees – many of them unlikely to attend another session.
The film chosen to launch the festival was Rachel Ward’s Palm Beach, which chronicles the midlife crises of a group of old friends who have come together to celebrate the lead character’s birthday. An Australian version of The Big Chill, the movie drew thunderous applause from the opening night crowd.
