Lucky Miles

(from blinkfilms.com)

Last Night we went to a screening of the Australian film 'Lucky Miles' at Lux, a local movie theatre (with special appearances by the theatre cat who strolled across the stage in fron of the big screen a couple of time completely oblivious to the huge looming desert behind her or to the house full of noisy restless cinema goers). We found a park outside, paid for our 1500 riel parking ticket, climbed the steps to the second floor and the 'premium seating' carefully chosing seats within blowing distance of a fan and sat gingerly on the surprisingly comfortable but ancient seats that settled back just far enough to make you wonder whether they would take the weight of a full sized barang for a full length feature. There was a preview on screen of a Cambodian horror and I dont use that term lightly it was indeed horrifying and playing so loud even thinking was not an option. Eventually it finished and we settled in to the opening scenes of Lucky Miles played using Michael James Rowland, the Adelaide writer directors, personal copy on 35mm film reel the only medium the cinema is equiped to play.

(from istockphoto.com)

Inspired by true stories the film tells the tale of two men dumped with a group of Iraqi and Cambodian refugees, by a Indonesian smuggling boat, on a remote piece of Australia's unforgiving desert coast somewhere between Broome and Perth.

(from eaustraliahotel.com)

They are told by the boats captain, played by long haired rock star (described by Rolling Stone magazine as the Indonesian 'Bruce Springsteen') Sawung Jabo, that a bus to Perth is 'just over the hill'. 'Just over the hill', however, turns out to be nothing but Baron desert (and no, thats not a spelling mistake). Realising they have been abandoned the men split into their national groups, the Iraqis go one way the Cambodians the other. Soon all but two of the men (one from each camp) have been picked up by the Australian outback police and they are soon joined by the nephew of the boats captain who has accidently, in a scene of karmic comedy, blown up his uncles fishing boat and is now as stranded as their smuggled cargo. Iraqi 'I am a fully qualified structrural engineer' Youssif (played by Lebanese Australian Rodney Afif), Cambodian Arun (played by Filipino American Kenneth Moraleda) and Indonesian Ramelan (played by Indonesian Srisacd Sacdpraseuth) argue and bicker their way across the desert, the fourth and most imposing star in the flick, pursued by three accident prone reservists.

(from afc.gov.au)

The film is beautifully shot, frame after frame of stunning camera angles and incredible scenery. The actors are throughly believable; there is plenty of wry humour to drown out the characters harsh past, some joyous victories to counter the various set backs and some beautiful one liners.

Here's the trailer I found on YouTube.

We all really enjoyed the film. It was awesome to watch something on the 'big screen' an opportunity not readily available here in Cambodia that is unless you are into Cambodian horrors played at 110 decibels.