Celia

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CKB Australian writer/director Ann Turner's first film is highly impressive on many fronts, but is seriously marred by a bizarre conclusion that goes against the film's own logic and strengths. To be sure, Turner is trying to do too many things at once. She combines 1950s social issues like communist witch hunts AND the Aussie govt's struggles to wipe out the wild rabbit population (leading to its heartlessly confiscating kids' pet rabbits as well!) AND the social impact of the many former WWII soldiers who are now trying to function as suburban husbands and fathers while repressing their terrible war experiences. All this is seen through the eyes of 8 yr old Celia, an exceptionally bright, independent natural leader who finds her beloved (and Marxist) grandmother dead in the very first scene. Celia fantasizes about the Hobyahs, malefic goblins from a popular Aussie children's book, which effectively embody the evil spirits that afflict the adults around her. Though the Hobyahs element has caused this to be labeled a 'horror' film, Celia is instead about a child coping with loss in a world run by adults who might be loving and protective one moment, and heartlessly cruel and unfair the next. Turner would have us believe that this naturally leads to Celia's ultimate wildly violent act, but it doesn't work – we cannot accept that this child who is a wonder of strength, resilience, and courage could suddenly become a psychopathic killer, or that her mother and friends would be willing accomplices. Slapping such a crude feminist moral onto the ending undermines the brilliant character study Turner has been pursuing. Rebecca Smart is extraordinary as Celia, with a mostly topnotch supporting cast. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/11/22 Full Review Audience Member The US release of this film dubs our main character a "child of terror." That far misses the mark on the portrait this film paints. The time is 1957. The place is Melbourne, Australia. A plague of rabbits, the threat of Communism, an overactive imagination resulting in seeing monsters, and the average childhood bullies all converge to cause the fall from grace and ultimately shocking actions of a sweet little girl. This film is haunting and stays with you long after it's over. A well-deserved 5 stars because everyone(especially the children) give 5 star performances. Shocking, truthful, saddening, but above all, memorable. This is the horrors of the world through a child's eyes and you'll never forget it. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Odd, engrossing little film. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member die die my darling!! Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member This is really quite disturbing at times, but you just can't turn away. Brilliant film! Rebecca Smart was a fantastic child-actor! Shame about the bunny.. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Fuck me, this was an intense, brilliant and perceptive film about childhood, and the end of childhood. Rebecca Smart's performance as the titular Celia is one of the finest child performances I have ever seen; natural, effortless. Set brilliantly in 50's Australia, with fear of communism at its peak, Celia gets conflicting information from adults around her, her parents telling her she will understand when she is older. Her Grandma, dead at the beginning of the film, was presumably more sensible in her approach and her absence is felt throughout. Celia's parents themselves (especially the father) are mostly clueless, cruel, ignorant, arrogant - so instead she finds direction from her new neighbour's - finally finding a solid mother figure and children she can play with (Celia is the victim of some horrific bullying elsewhere). <i>Celia</i> is a heartbreaking but funny and above all TRUTHFUL film that sits alongside the likes of <i>Stand By Me</i> and <i>Heavenly Creatures</i> (but unlike the former, doesn't ever break into nostalgia or sentimentality - it's a harsh film). Worth seeking out (the UK DVD is widely available and has an excellent contextualising essay in the booklet). <u>If you don't bawl your eyes out then I do not want to know you.</u> Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Celia

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