Palm Beach

The Setting

As it’s name suggests, the film is set in the dream homes of Palm Beach overlooking the strip of land separating the Pacific Ocean from the Hawkesbury River. This setting on the northern-most beaches of Sydney is unquestionably spectacular. As if working in the best houses in Palm Beach was not enough, the cast are said to have lived on location for the duration of the shoot.

The Storyline

The story is about a group of old friends, some of whom played in a 1970s rock band, ‘The Pacific Sideburns’. We discover that on the strength of one hit song and great promise, the band had featured on the cover of Rolling Stone in 1977.

All guests are flown in by Frank, the band’s former manager (played superbly by Bryan Brown) to celebrate his Birthday. The venue is Franks sprawling hill top home in Palm Beach and the adjacent waterways.

The Cast

The film boasts a stellar Australian cast. Joining Bryan Brown as Birthday boy, Frank, is Greta Sacchi as Frank’s wife, Charlotte. Their son, Dan and daughter Ella, are played by Charlie Vickers and Matilda Brown (Rachel Ward’s daughter). The two surviving former band members are Leo (Sam Neill) and Billy (Richard E Grant). Also attending is Holly (Claire van der Boom), whose late mother had been a band member of ‘The Pacific Sideburns’. She brings along her latest boyfriend, Doug (Aaron Jeffrey).

The Themes

As expected from a reunion film, Palm Beach depicts differences in recollections of the past, a nostalgia for idealised glory days and regrets over unfulfilled dreams. Regrets, a struggle to accept present reality, and to let go of a hankering for the glory days is particularly noticeable amongst the men. They are shown to be resenting and struggling with unfulfilled ambitions, loss of status and self esteem – their symptoms of (near) retirement age. Their wives appear to be more pragmatic, realistic and in most cases accepting of ageing.

Doug, Leo, Frank and Billy off to the beach

While such angst and disclosures of past regrets and wrongs is not a new concept, their realistic treatment and the nature of the issues raised, are.

Various relationship issues are highlighted in the four senior relationships and in the fledgling romance of Holly and her new boyfriend Doug, the country lad with a heart of gold. These are handled in an entertaining and intelligent manner. The film’s treatment of father-son relationships is particularly memorable. All viewers should be able to identify with at least some aspect of these crises.

The selection of old and new songs creates a sound track that should please most fans of popular music.

The underlying issue is a secret from the past. It provides most of the suspense and drama. The wisdom or otherwise of giving away this old and other new secrets, leaves the viewer with something to mull over.

Summing Up

The film succeeds in allowing the viewer to feel like an invitee to the party. This is in part due to the uncontrived dialogue. A dry laconic sense of humour pervades throughout. This permits the script to entertain while dealing with often real and confronting issues.

While unlikely to win awards, this is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining film with a distinctly Australian, but not cliched, character.