Summary
An inky black absurdist comedy with some properly dark turns, it might not always been consistent but has a hell of a lot of fun getting there.
As the lens of debut feature filmmaker Mirrah Faulkes chases a small child through a church courtyard, complete with a Danny Elfman-esque score, it’s clear we’re in for something a little bit different. Whether that difference is something you’re into is an entirely separate kettle of fish.
The 17th century town of Seaside, which is decidedly nowhere near the sea, is a little bit devoid of culture thanks to its hysteria over witches. Apart from the regular stoning days, the puppet show from the alcoholic Professor Punch (Damon Herriman) and his wife Judy (Mia Wasikowska) captivates the town. It’s the latter who holds their lives together, so when tragedy besets the family thanks to the violent actions of Punch, their marriage and the small town of Seaside is set for a revolution.
Although not entirely consistent in its tone, Foulkes aims for an inky black comedy as a means of exploring a culture of violence against women. At the start of the film, the comedy is quite broad: from doddering old folks to a dog running off with sausages. It culminates in a jaw-dropping moment involving the couple’s infant, a cross between a macabre episode of The Simpsons and Monty Python, that will undoubtedly be the point of no return for some viewers.
The mood shifts dramatically after this point, turning darker and more violent. Punch’s hair-trigger temper and hysterical villagers might feel like a heavy-handed commentary on male violence and the culture of fear, but if we’re being honest it’s not a far stone’s throw from the 21st century. If you think persecution is a thing of the past, just read any Twitter thread or comments section to see how quickly verbal violence emerges and hate escalates.
Foulkes’s alternative to this darkness is a collection of misfits living out in the woods, practicing Tai Chi and moving on whenever the gaze looks like it might turn back on them. The solutions all seem a little bit too easy, but there is a truth to the contradictory puritanical ethics of Seaside.
JUDY AND PUNCH is likely to be a divisive film. Indeed, there were multiple walkouts from punters and critics alike during the Australian premiere at the Sydney Film Festival. Nevertheless, the lush production design and over-the-topness of it all is likely to earn this a cult following in the coming years.
2019 | Australia | DIRECTOR: Mirrah Foulkes | WRITERS: Mirrah Foulkes | CAST: Mia Wasikowska, Damon Herriman, Tom Budge | DISTRIBUTOR: Madman Entertainment (AUS)| RUNNING TIME: 105 minutes | RELEASE DATE: 8-13 June 2019 (SFF)
