Significant
This compelling film noir from Indigenous Australian Filmmaker, Ivan Sen (Mystery Road, Goldstone), is set in Coober Pedy, and tells the story of local first nation girl Charlotte Hayes, who went missing twenty years ago and was never found.
Starring Australian Actor and Director Simon Baker from The Mentalist and The Devil Wears Prada fame. He plays jaded Detective Travis Hurley, who is re-opening the outback cold case murder, and is also fighting his own demons. He was in a drug squad and is still addicted to heroin.
Travis bases himself at the Hotel Limbo, superbly named, as Charlotte’s family have been in limbo since her disappearance. How can you ever move on from something when you don’t have the answers or a body to lay to rest.
Travis meets Joseph, played by Nicholas Hope, now an old local, whose brother was questioned during Charlotte’s disappearance, and tries to find answers to the questions which have been playing on her families’ minds.
Accomplished actress Natasha Wanganeen, known for her starring role in Rabbit Proof Fence, plays Charlotte’s dispirited sister, Emma who is fighting her own grief and is still the family rock. She is raw and makes your heart ache for the answers that will end her torment.
Rob Collins plays Charlotte’s broken brother, who was arrested for her disappearance when two of the local guys in town wanted the spotlight to be removed from them.
Limbo was filmed in black and white, so it takes your mind away from processing colour, which highlights the sun-baked, rugged lunar Australian landscape beautifully. The movie is dramatic and moody and takes place in a small opal mining town.
First nations young people make around 20 percent of missing children in Australia – but only a minute percentage get media coverage. Every life is special and deserves respect, no matter of skin colour and race. All missing children should have the same energy and effort put into finding them.
Limbo powerfully focuses upon this and the rapid need for change.
Reviewed by Gemma Crossland
More News
