Review of The Home Song Stories (2007) by Jess L — 15 Feb 2008

For me it's all about the story, if a film has a flimsy script it's only a matter of time before it begins to fall apart no matter how many amazing actors you have in it. That said, I fell in love with this screenplay. Yes it's depressing at times and the outcome is far from a fairytale ending but its raw, honest, heartbreaking and completely memorable. It's a haunting film in a way and a fresh approach to Australian film making. It's a confronting experience for the audience and takes you out of your comfort zone at times, but it is also a window into a completely different culture one that touched a nerve with me; having an immigrant background on one side of my family.

The glimpse into mental illness is also an intriguing one and whilst it doesn't offer many answers it is in the final scene of the film in which the grown up Tom is writing as his mother's ghost approaches that it becomes clear we don't understand or appreciate everything our loved ones do but that we still love them unconditionally. It really is a beautiful movie and a stand apart for me in Australian film.