Men's Group

It is what it says it is and doesn't pretend to be anything other. And for that, we are grateful. Don't be misled however, it is also much more.

Director Michael Joy brings together a wide group of men to talk about their various issues in a free range, ad lib style and yet the characters find themselves with similar issues, a little too similar to be a co-incidence and one wonders if this isn't reflective of the Director himself.

Having said that, it does make for a sense of unity amongst the men, and some cohesion in the piece. The performances are powerful, the emotions genuine, so real in fact, you'll be struggling to separate the men from the actors. It feels so authentic that it's impossible not to be moved. While it may be very much a man's film and men over a particular age, young men and women can also learn a lot from this bunch of blokes. We are more sensitive and complex than we are given credit for.

Not all of the character threads are explored and though we don't need all loose ends to be tied up, in fact, it's legitimate to leave something to the imagination, one character is left unexplained and it feels as though something is missing and even a little false. Yet this is nothing compared to the thin, contrived plot lines of Australian dramas over recent years. Once again, it takes an independent film to show how it can be done. The strength of the performances are so gripping, the underlying issues so intricate and so beautifully drawn to the surface, that in the end, you know you've witnessed something very special.