The Dry

A bit late to this but I'm glad I decided to check it out. The Dry is a simmering, dusty mystery set in the drought-stricken Australian scrub. It's directed by Robert Connolly and co-written by Connolly and Harry Cripps, adapted from a novel by Jane Harper. Eric Bana plays Aaron Falk, a Melbourne-based federal police officer, who is urged by the parents of his old mate, Luke, to return to his hometown for said mate's funeral. Without going into the rabbit's hole, suffice to say, Aaron isn't entirely welcome in the town of Kiewarra (fictional, though Ballarat is mentioned as nearby). The crime leading to the death of Aaron's friend may or may not be linked to another crime 20 years before, which drove Aaron and his dad to abandon the town, but digging around for facts proves difficult. As one character says, "When you've been lying about something for so long, it becomes second nature."

The way the film winkles out the details of both crimes is masterfully done; offering a possibility, then taking it off the table. It's not too complicated but it does have a few plates spinning and managing this troublesome crockery is one of the film's strengths. Another is the cinematography of Stefan Duscio, which somehow makes the sharp, crackly, bloody irksome landscape of the Aussie bush look positively grand and majestic. The cast is superb, led by Bana in a low-key, guilt-tinged performance. It's good to see a few familiar faces like Julia Blake, Bruce Spence and John Polson but it's the young 'flashback' cast that shine here, especially BeBe Bettencourt and Joe Klocek. Keep an eye on them.

In those 1991 sequences, the river plays a big role. In the present, it's completely dried up. The harsh conditions and specifically, the lack of water, reflect Aaron's childhood, his lost love, his historical absconding from the town. Imagine the lyrics of Flame Trees by Cold Chisel and you're thereabouts. It's significant that when a local bogan tells Aaron to "Go back to where you came from", he doesn't remind him that he IS from there. Just like the water, Aaron is alien to the place now. The Dry is a great exploration of cagey, parochial, country town Australia. Not to be missed.

See also: On the theme of returning home, have a look at David Caeser's Mullet (2001). And for a more dystopian view of Aussie regional life, try Wake in Fright (1971), directed by Ted Kotcheff.