by Kyle Withers
1. The Black Balloon
This is my pick one, many people have never actually heard of this film which is a shame because it’s a proper gem of Australian cinema. This is a perfect example of what Aussie films do well; low budget with high impact. This is also a story about awareness, how an ordinary family deals with a child with severe autism and absolutely worth the watch. But Luke Ford is the real star of the show. As a whole it is a masterpiece of Australian cinema.
2. Kokoda
This World War 2 film is another example of low budget, high impact. Its story focuses on a group of Aussie soldiers cut off behind enemy lines on the famous Kokoda trail. It is a great representation of how our ANZACs forged themselves into history. Also, I don’t believe this is an action film, personally I would class it as a thriller due to the sheer horror and anxiety you have while watching. It is a small relatively unknown cast but that makes the viewing experience all the more human to watch.
3. The Big Steal
I am a little biased towards this. It is my favorite film of all time, especially as it is filmed in the west which makes everything so recognisable for us Westsiders. The other part that’s great is that its pretty relatable to growing up. Also it’s great to see current stars before they became world famous, as Ben Mendelsohn and Claudia Karvan have done.
