BLACK ROCK

SYNOPSIS:
Seventeen year old Jared who lives with his mother in the beachside suburb of Blackrock, throws a welcome home party for his best friend and surf guru, Ricko. When a 15 year old girl from the party is found raped and killed on the beach next morning, Jared - who has witnessed something - is torn between loyalty to his ‘mates’ and the harsh truth .

Review by Louise Keller:
A powerful film with a deep emotional thrust. Nick Enright’s script is most effective for its economy - for what is often unsaid. The big question is whether or not to believe that Jared would do nothing having witnessed a brutal rape. After all, he stuck up for the girl at the party…. But that aside, Laurence Breuls, with soulful and expressive facial features, gives a convincing, broody performance as the troubled teen. He is well complemented by Simon Lyndon, who brings a biting edge to Ricko painting him with a smattering of evil and unpredictability. Linda Cropper’s Diane is an understated insight into troubled single parent, and the development of her relationship with Jared brings an extra dimension to the film. Whether or not the subtleties of Australian teen culture will totally translate in other countries is hard to say, but there is no question that the audience at the preview screening, which included a large group of high school students who appeared in the film, were greatly moved by the experience.

Review by Andrew L. Urban:
I feel the young actors all deliver credible and identifiable characters. The one criticism I share is with Louise, and it’s to do with the script, which calls for Jared to be shocked but immobile when he sees the gang rape taking place. Some device could have helped make this more credible - such as having Jared himself drunk, too, instead of just pensive and broody. But there is no question that the film is worth seeing.