Beautiful Kate: Special Edition (2009)

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General		Extras
Category	Drama	Audio Commentary-Rachel Ward, Leah Churchill-Brown, Andrew Commiss Deleted Scenes-(With Commentary by Rachel Ward) (11.43) Storyboard Comparisons-(6.57) Trailer-Whip It, Mao's Last Dancer, Bright Star Short Film-The Big House (24.25) (With Introduction) Short Film-Martha's New Coat (52.10) (With Introduction)
Rating
Year Of Production	2009
Running Time	96:42
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Dual Disc Set	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Ads Then Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Rachel Ward
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Rachel Griffiths Bryan Brown Ben Mendelsohn Sophie Lowe Maeve Dermody Scott O'Donnell Josh McFarlane Robbie Clissold
Case	?
RPI	?	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	2.35:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Given her long history in the film industry and her accomplished short films it is perhaps no surprise that British born, Hollywood trained and Australian adopted actress/screenwriter/director Rachel Ward makes such an impressive feature debut with Beautiful Kate. This recent Australian film is powerful and moving in equal measures and formed part of the 2009 renaissance that included Samson and Delilah, My Year Without Sex, Last Ride, Balibo and Blessed. In any other year the film may have dominated the AFI Awards however, this year amongst such esteemed company it came home with only one award from its multiple nominations, for Rachel Griffiths in a supporting role.

A city car wends its way through outback South Australia. Inside is Ned (Ben Mendelsohn) and Toni (Maeve Dermody). They are a couple although it is clear that Ned is almost twice her age. It is a homecoming of sorts. Ned is returning to the farm, after years of estrangement, to farewell his dying father (Bryan Brown). Dad isn't dying alone out here. Faithful daughter Sally (Rachel Griffiths) is carefully tending to his needs. Ned strikes a roo in the night, a splash of blood on the window. A warning perhaps, or a reminder of a dark past?

At the farm it is immediately apparent all is not well. The dying father is in pain, sullen and resentful. Toni, an aspiring actress, thinks the place is a dump and, in her youth, starts playing up. It also becomes apparent that she knows little about her boyfriend - least of all that he had a twin sister and a brother. Both died in mysterious circumstances and it is clear that the family has never recovered.

Sally decides to take off for a couple of days leaving the ill-equipped Ned to care for his father.

So begins a painful unravelling of the past - a past that can either unite them in reconciliation or drive them irreparably apart.

Beautiful Kate was adapted from the novel of the same name by Newton Thorburg whose novel Cutter and Bone was filmed in the 80s as Cutters Way. The adaptation is seamless, transferring the setting from American Gothic to Australian Gothic with ease. Make no mistake, these are powerfully drawn characters and Ward directs with an even handedness that makes us love and detest the characters by turn. Ben Mendelsohn is a fine actor who had early success as the likeable rogue. As Ned he is that kid grown up and gone to seed, a writer who tries to connect and resolve the past by writing about. Mendelsohn is at the top of his game and he has a strong foil in Brown playing cantankerous and powerless. Griffiths is the caring but lonely woman left caring for her father amongst painful memories. Dermody as Toni is difficult, spiky yet believable as the young woman who sees the house as a graveyard and isn't excited by the prospect of hanging around any longer than they must.

Finally, special mention has to be made of Sophie Lowe, the young actress playing Kate. Though her story is told in flashbacks, often sepia toned and sunlit, she brings an amazing vitality to this tragic part.

As the story progresses the dark secrets come to light - a past of sexual taboo and tragic guilt. Some may find the subject matter disturbing but this is a journey worth taking.

Video

    Beautiful Kate was shot on 35mm film and projected cinematically at a 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

That ratio has been preserved for the DVD release. It is 16x9 enhanced.

First time feature cinematographer Andrew Commiss does an amazing job with his compositions and the film brings the harsh country alive in a way that is at once frightening and stunning.

The DVD transfer has strong, consistent colours. The contrast levels are just right and the shadows are deep. It is a sharp good looking film.

There were no artefacts to be seen on this clean print. I did notice hints of compression at various stages but not enough to be of any concern.

All in all this is a good looking Australian film given an appropriate DVD treatment.

There are subtitles in English for the hearing impaired.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
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Audio

  Beautiful Kate comes with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack running at 448 Kb/s.

The film is really a family drama and the soundscape is quite personal. The surround track didn't really have much to do throughout other than provide some ambience particularly with birdsong in the quieter moments and the buzzing of flies. It sounds fine none-the-less.

The dialogue can be heard clearly throughout.

There are no technical problems with the soundtrack.

The music is by Tex Perkins and Murray Paterson who create a lonely country ambience. It is a perfect accompaniment to the film.

The actors are in audio sync.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Commentary Track

Director Rachel Ward, producer Leah Churchill-Brown and cinematographer Andrew Commiss collaborate on this commentary track. Each chimes in from time to time to comment on the difficulties involved in individual scenes. It is not a prepared commentary however and there are scenes of silence and stray comments. Still, worth a listen.

Deleted Scenes

Storyboard Comparison

This series of short scenes, from reasonably early in the film, are interesting for several reasons. The storyboards are perhaps rougher (no insult to the artist) than usual and also the scenes shown include bits that were cut form the final print of the film (although included in the deleted scenes).

The second DVD contains two short films from Rachel Ward and each includes short audio introduction from Rachel Ward.

Short Film - The Big House (24.25)

Made in 2000 this was Rachel Ward's first directorial effort. Given her cache in the industry she managed to scrape together a dream cast including Tony Martin, Gary Sweet and Kick Gurry in this strong story of life on the inside. As a tough, though moving story of sexual love between non-gay males in prison it is not to all tastes but worth a watch. The film won a swag of Australian short film awards. It is visually a bit rough but that tends to suit the tale.

Short Film - Martha's New Coat (52.10)

More substantial fare this, but in many ways just as tough. Martha, played by the directors daughter, lives in a dead end country town surrounded by no-hopers and tough girls. She goes on a road trip to find her father, taking with her as companion her innocent little sister. A sure-handed, serious film with a quality cast of youngsters.

    At present this DVD has only been released in Region 4. Here's hoping!

    Beautiful Kate is a powerful drama about the difficulty of reconciling with the past. It is a quality Australian film and features some fine acting performances from an ensemble cast.

The DVD is of good quality and accompanied by some fine and comprehensive extras.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall