The picture of restless ‘70s youth, the boys’ decision to cycle from their small town to the coastline seems inevitable, yet steeped in youthful rebellion. So too does Pikelet’s fishing trip on the river with his father (Richard Roxburgh), who is wary about venturing outside of his comfort zone. That the duo is first spied clowning around in a creek offers a telling taste of things to come. Poetic narration from Winton bathes their teenage exploits in reflection, positioning the narrative as the memories of a man contrasting the boy he was with the person he’ll grow into. Odd-couple buddies united in their adolescent malaise and desire for adventure beyond routine lives, they’re drawn to the ocean. It’s also crucial when taking to the waves, though 13-year-old Pikelet (Samson Coulter) understands this better than the outgoing Loonie (Ben Spence). Patience, of course, isn’t just a virtue of the film’s pacing and introspective mood - or indicative of Baker’s handling of his surfer turned first-time actor leads, who ooze naturalism. At a minimum, Australian audiences will greet the feature enthusiastically upon its 2018 release. Though the coastal-set effort unfurls perhaps a little too patiently to have a widespread impact, it should hold solid appeal to fans of thoughtful, searching dramas - and, thanks to water cinematographer Rick Rifici’s ( Drift) sharp work, to lovers of agile surf visuals. Thanks to his US fame, Baker’s name will entice interest following the film’s Toronto premiere, but Breath remains textured and involving regardless of his profile. Like taking a dip in alluring yet choppy surf, as its characters do often, it’s equally vivid and calm, swelling with emotion yet still in its approach.īreath resounds in its themes and feeling partly because it paddles so heavily into its Australiana. Adapting Tim Winton’s acclaimed novel with assurance, affection and a keen understanding of its central search for identity, the measured and moving Breath proves a successful homecoming.
It’s with a soulful splash in coming-of-age waters that Simon Baker makes his feature directorial debut, and his return to the Australian industry after a near two-decade absence.
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