David Wenham’s feature-length directorial debut Ellipsis did not exactly set the box office on fire when it first played in cinemas last year. The actor-cum-director’s romantic drama, a love letter to Sydney, played only on the festival circuit.
The good news is, it’s playing at a range of cinemas across Australia throughout February (tickets and times here, or visit this page on the film’s website). Ellipsis has generated fantastic word of mouth and a strong response from critics.
Writing for The Guardian, Flicks contributor Luke Buckmaster called it “a high-spirited and humane dramedy with a sparkling joie de vivre and an infectious passion for people and their idiosyncrasies.”
For The Hollywood Reporter, Harry Windsor wrote: “Wenham’s first feature is striking most notably for its evocation of the city he calls home, and particularly of its rapidly disappearing red-light district, Kings Cross.”
Screen Daily‘s Sarah Ward said: “It’s with a lightness of touch but the weight of familiarity that actor David Wenham’s debut feature flits through the streets of Sydney, offering a meet-cute-sparked walk-and-talk and an off-the-beaten-track tour of Australia’s largest city.”
The story follows two strangers, Jasper (Benedict Samuel) and Viv (Emily Barclay), who bump into each other on the street and share a night together on the town. They visit many places Sydneysiders will instantly recognise. It has been widely praised as a loving portrait of the city.
Ellipsis is a semi-improvisational film, conceived as an experiment. It was shot in just seven days, from a script work-shopped in three.
There is a good chance that you will not get the chance to see it on the big screen again. Ellipsis will screen in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland in February, with many of the screenings accompanied by a live Q&A with Wenham.
Visit the film’s website for a complete list of screenings, or consult our info page for sessions and times.
