Release Date: April 22, 2008
Rating: R (for sexuality, some violence and brief language)
Genre: Drama
Run Time: 104 min.
Director: Richard Roxburgh
Actors: Eric Bana, Franka Potente, Marton Csokas, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Russell Dykstra
It’s the summer of 1960, and 10-year-old Raimond Gaita (Kodi Smit-McPhee) lives with his father, Romulus (Eric Bana, The Other Boleyn Girl) in a ramshackle Australian farmhouse. Though Yugoslavian, Romulus speaks Romanian, and in between blacksmithing and farm chores, the father and son spend time with other immigrants in their remote rural community.
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Romulus’ German wife Christina (Franka Potente, The Bourne Supremacy) comes and goes, creating tremendous turmoil. She chafes under their isolated life, and has affairs to cope. Romulus always takes her back, however. Eventually, Christina leaves him for his best friend’s brother, and the two have a baby girl together. Raimond begins spending summers in town with his mother, but something is wrong with Christina. She ignores her baby and has dangerous liaisons, although most days, she just stays in bed, growing more and more detached. Soon, we learn that her boyfriend is beating her as well.
Romulus tries to keep things together for his son. In addition to taking care of Raimond—even arranging for his care, after a near-fatal motorcycle accident—he also supports Christina and her boyfriend. Despite an ongoing struggle with depression and rage, he’s the one stable factor in young Raimond’s life. Then he, too, lands in a mental institution.
Based on the memoir by Raimond Gaita, the acclaimed Australian author and philosopher, Romulus, My Father was shot on location in Central Victoria, Australia, and boasts some of the best cinematography imaginable. Every shot is a lesson in contrast, composition and depth, and it’s clear that Australian Geoffrey Simpson (Fried Green Tomatoes, Under the Tuscan Sun) is one of the best cinematographers today.
Bana was raised down under, but is of Croatian descent, so he understands immigrant life in Australia—as well as the Eastern European accent. His skill extends far beyond vocals, however. He’s an intriguing, sympathetic Romulus, and watching him, it’s hard to remember that he isn’t Yugoslavian. Potente is equally appealing. Here, the young German shows that she’s a true force to be reckoned with among Hollywood actresses. The real star of the show, however, is the young Smit-McPhee, who plays with great sympathy a young boy who is just starting to realize how complicated life can be.