Review of The Turning (2013) by Philip P — 12 Oct 2013

This nicely photographed series of 17 shorts based on Tim Winton's book is a real mess.

If you haven't read the book, you will not know that certain characters reappear to different points in their lives which makes the whole thing impossible to follow as some sections seem entirely disposable.

The producers presumably share this worry as they have provided a book which lists which characters come back but as it's a bit dark in the cinema it's not much help.

So 17 directors, 17 casts, 17 snippets of just how grinding life in small town Australia (apparently it is all supposed to be set in one town) really is.

Someone described it as melancholic, but I'd suggest grinding and dull would fit better.

In case you wondered, the film with Cate Blanchett in looks like a first rehearsal for a stageplay it is so wooden. At one point I sweat the cast all looks at the direction for a clue about what is going on.

If you like Winton's writing you'll want to see it, but there aren't many other reasons.