Cracka Tube

Don's Party

Kings

Directed by Bruce Beresford

Few films have ever been able to sharply criticise contemporary social values and at the same time, be so damned devastatingly funny and embarrassing as Don's Party, our latest import from the thriving Australian film industry.

On election day, October 25, 1969, Don, a school teacher and failed writer, throws a party to coincide with the televising of the election results. The guests are mainly old university friends, together with their women folk.

The party is seemingly like any other, the men grogging and making passes at each other's women, obscene language flowing free, happy couples. However as the party progresses, differences arise. The formally-attired couple bravely admit to being Liberal; the 19 year old student casually asks Don's wife is she can screw him; Mack the divorcee admits to secretly photographing his ex-wife in sexual congress with one of the other guests.

With this atmosphere, most of the inevitable happens. Like when Cooley, the loud-mouthed sex maniac experiences a literal coitus interruptus. In trembling defence he warns the belligerent husband "You hit me. I can sue you. I'm a lawyer." Husband: "I want to knock your teeth out" Quips another, "He's a dentist".

As the night wears on, we gradually become more aware of the exposed facades each of the party-goers reveal. David Williamson (who adapted his own play for the screen) subtly pinpoints staleness in marriage, the problems of on-coming middle age, our unfulfilled pipe dreams and class snobbery. We realise the use of promiscuity, status and obscene language as some of the many false social values we adopt to stay in trend with the present generation.

In this respect our laughing at the events of the party bears a double significance. The social habits and customs across the Tasman are especially meaningful to us (more so that to an American audience). The party, the milieu, are only too familiar personal experiences. Our laughter is at ourselves.

Although the film is dominated by the character interaction and superbly scripted dialogue, Bruce Beresford's skillful direction does not go unnoticed. It is only through the lack of "camera presence" in our role of observer in the film that we realise Beresford's unobtrusive use of the camera within the confines of the house. The varied cast makes for a fine ensemble though Pat Bishop and Veronica Lang as two of the wives provide the strongest performances.

Don's Party comes from the mainstream of Australian comedy. At the same time it is a deeply emotional film with political undercurrents (the awareness of the transient beliefs is a major theme). Unlike Don and his friends, for whom little changes, we welcome another insight into such intangible voids in which we so easily lose ourselves

Kevin John Young