Alexandra's Project (2003)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Rolf de Heer

Writer:

Rolf de Heer (writer)

Release Date:

8 May 2003 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Not everyone loves surprises

Plot:

A regular suburban family man comes home from work on his birthday to find a deserted house and a videotape waiting to be played...

Plot Keywords:

Birthday | Videotape | Deserted House | Revenge | Conspiracy

Awards:

3 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Gary Sweet	...	Steve
Helen Buday	...	Alexandra
Bogdan Koca	...	Bill
Samantha Knigge	...	Emma
Jack Christie	...	Sam
Eileen Darley	...	Christine
Geoff Revell	...	Rodney
Philip Spruce	...	Taxi Driver (as Phillip Spruce)
Nathan O'Keefe	...	Man at Door
Peter Green	...	Chairman
Martha Lott	...	Female Worker
Cindy Elliott	...	Female Worker
Gemma Falk	...	Female Worker
Nicole Daniel	...	Female Worker
Duncan Graham	...	Male Worker

Also Known As:

Alexandra's Progress (Australia) (working title)

Runtime:

Australia:103 min | Canada:98 min (Ontario)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Italy:VM14 (re-rating) (2005) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) (2003) | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Australia:MA (video rating) | Germany:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Finland:K-15 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R18 | Singapore:R(A)

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Vertigo Productions Pty. Ltd.

Trivia:

The film was originally going to be an ultra-low budget feature

Quotes:

[first lines]
Alexandra: [talking to the mirror] I'm sorry Steve, I'm truly sorry.
[spits into the mirror]
Alexandra: Don't be sorry. Never be sorry.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Simpsons Movie (2007)

Soundtrack:

Steam Will Rise

Unpleasant, but can you really fault it?

I have to say, I'm a bit confused by the responses of so many people to "Alexandra's Project". Enough Australians have gone to see it for it to be one of the only art-house films in my living memory to make it into the Top 10 at the Box Office, but no-one really seems to like it, with the exception of a few critics. In fact, when I came out of the cinema after seeing it, I heard one woman say, "That was a really bad movie." And this intrigues me - in what way is this a "really bad movie"? I can understand that very few people will enjoy it. I personally cannot say that I did. But as to its technique, construction, delivery etc., how can you fault it? The only explanation that occurs to me is that audiences are so alienated by the material that they can't notice a) Gary Sweet and Helen Buday's amazing performances, b) tight direction, c) brilliant sound and film editing and d) eerily effective cinematography. Perhaps Australian audiences don't like to be provoked in this kind of way, and I can see how that could easily be the case. "Alexandra's Project" is a feel-bad movie to end all feel-bad movies. It makes "Leaving Las Vegas" look like "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood". But does that make it a "really bad" movie? Some have actually criticised the material for being mundane - I REALLY don't understand that. Rolf de Heer has come up with a phenomenally complex and thought-provoking story, which, with the benefit of an amazing cast and very skilled technical crew who don't seem at all affected by what was a ridiculously low-budget, has been made into one of the (technically) best Australian films in years. If you don't want your films to be challenging, then don't bother - you'll hate it. But if you DO go and see it, try to accept it for what it is, which is an unpleasant but brilliant film that will give you food for thought for the next year.

That being said, I don't think I could ever watch it again, and probably couldn't bear to watch a film that I thought would be anything like it. It's impossible to come out of with your emotions at all intact.

Objectively speaking, ten out of ten. Congratulations Rolf. But in terms of audience enjoyment? Impossible to assess. Just watch it for yourself and see.