Sehnsucht nach Australien

Beguiling. Enchanting. Disquieting.

How can this film be best expressed? Certainly one for the Europhiles. A mix of French existentialist passion and a confused, complex east European feel add to its allurement.

How a film can so loosely, and yet successfully, hold together activities in the present, the past, Australia, Belgium, London, Bradford and Indonesia is mystifying.

It is certainly not a film to be understood in one sitting.

A first viewing is just an invitation to go deeper. A second and third viewing starts to draw out the cinematic metaphors.

The grading, purchasing, teasing and cleansing of wool and its parallels with the stages and issues of the principal characters' life experiences and relationships is subtle, if not initially tenuous.

By a fourth or fifth viewing the imagination is likely to be open to understand and build upon the film's light under currents and the key issues and challenges faced by each character.

However, just like gliders going around in circles seeking the thermals to rise higher, so too are the characters realising that they too are trapped in respective professional, relational and emotional impasses, and that they need to look for guidance to navigate a safe landing.

Everyone needs time to reflect, and yet that one commodity is in short supply for all concerned.

For each character help to confront their hurts and take steps towards a healing arrives, sometimes in unlikely forms - always out of the blue.

Enjoy.