Satisfaction Garenteed

I have been an avid fan of the new Australian television show, Satisfaction. For those who haven't heard of it, it is a show depicting life in a high-class brothel. It delves into the misconceptions of employment as a sex worker and steers clear of the 'prostitute' stereotype of a girl standing on a corner.


With Australia being one of few countries where prostitution is a legal tax paying job, the series comes as a relief from previous depictions of sex-workers.
The costume and makeup is breathtaking and the characters lovable and relatable.
However, the truly interesting part this television programme plays is the depiction of women on Australian screens. The show is based around women and the control they hold over men, which is a far cry from other overly masculine Australian films and TV. Although there are men in the show, the dribble in and out as clients and sometimes boyfriends but hold no real power over the women.
The idea of Satisfaction is liberating and refreshing to female viewers with its interesting and somewhat controversial content, it is filmed beautifully and has a clear message, although women may seem redundant in their depiction on television, they secretly hold power behind closed doors.

Film Review on Australia by Baz

There has been a large amount of discussion around Baz Luhrmann's film 'Australia'. Mixed reviews smothered this film and the experience for the spectator in doubt and pressure . At around the same time the film was released, Baz Luhrmann developed an advertising campaign for Tourism Australia, implying that the two were subsequently linked. .



This was one of the factors of the film which cause controversy amoung expectant viewers and critics alike. The advertising campaign for Tourism Australia put an incredible amount of pressure before the film was released for it to boost tourism and show the caliber of film australia as an artistic industry could produce. How could any film achieve this? To produce advertisment for a country, film industry and have an accurate portrayal of indigenous affairs and historical events whilst still appealing to the masses. “Everything in the film will be in service to a great romance … Facts will be moved around but not in a way that fundamentally disturbs the truth.” - Baz Lurhmann(http://www.australiamovie.net/about/history/)

Removing all the above elements can help us see the film on a more basic level. The wide shots of the Kimberly's were breathtaking, the colours were romantic and beautiful, the love story was epic. If we look at Baz Lurhmann's past films we can completely understand this why Australia was filmed in the style it was. Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet and Moulin rougue are all riddles with cheesy shots and colourful, fun surrounding incredible love stories. And that is what Australia is...a love story, however unbelievable.





However, can you produce a film that has so many delicate issues and expect critics to ignore it and concentrate purely on the film as an expression of a man missing home and wanting to explore what Australia is about? I desperately want to say yes, but unfortunately, with the Australian film industry as it is, the expectation of bringing across on a world forum what it is to be australian is crucial.

Other interesting links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF19RQXDNjY

Happy ending anyone?

whilst watching the screening of Gallipoli (Weir 1981) in the lecture this morning it was easy to see the Australian stereotypes drawn on by Weir, instilled in the characters. the sense of joviality and comaraderie (mateship) were clear in the relationship between Archie and Dunn with their joking and teasing and friendship illustrated throughout the film. However i couldn't help but compare the frustrating ending of the film with other australian films. Gallipoli ends with the character of Dunn carrying a message to the front line to draw back. Dunn doesnt make it by mere seconds and the front line, which includes Dunn's friend Archie, is sent over to their slaughter.

Is this idea of a frustrating ending becoming a trend in Australian films? Ten Canoes (2006) has an anti-climactic ending, Romeo and Juliet (1996) (i consider it an Australian film because it was made by one of australia's best, Baz Lurhman), though a shakespeare adaptation has an incredibly infuriating ending, Candy (2006), both lovers get off drugs and they still dont live happily ever after, Lantana (2001), and the uncertainty it creates at the end, Moulin Rouge (2001), which doesn't have the happiest of endings. It would seem the australian film industry and public alike enjoy thier films to have a more real and hard endings then their American counter-part's fluffy, sugar coated endings. So much so that films like The Butterfly Effect (2004) had an alternate ending in Australia than it did here.

So is the Australian film industry the anitote to the steotypical American 'happy ending'?