KANGAROO ISLAND

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Storyline (warning: spoilers)

Director Timothy David’s drama about family and home takes place on the titular Kangaroo Island, an actual island located south-west of Adelaide. Set against the sweeping coastlines and rugged beauty of the island, this film weaves a deeply personal story with a striking sense of place.
The film begins in Los Angeles where we meet Lou (Rebecca Breeds), an actor whose only real success to date has been playing a dubious character in a popular TV soap drama. The joke, in case you missed it, is that Breed’s real-life launching pad was Home & Away. Lou has had a few gigs but is in a career slump when she receives a plane ticket back home from her father, Rory (Erik Thomson). Lou has no intention of actually returning but, when engaged in an awkward situation with a police officer who pulls her over, uses the ticket to prove she’s in a rush.
The film has strong themes of death, grief, jealousy, betrayal and spirituality, which belie its often very light comic touch. Writer Sally Gifford and Timothy David confidently navigate between the serious and the humorous without running aground on moments that are too dark, or too flippant. The supporting cast also add depth, each embodying the rhythms and challenges of small-town living. The cinematography is another highlight - sun-drenched cliffs, windswept beaches, and the delicate stillness of bushland provide a backdrop that is both breathtaking and essential to the story.
Audiences should see Kangaroo Island not only for its heartfelt performances and striking visuals but also because is an Australian story told with honesty and care. It is a highly enjoyable and engaging experience that lets its deeply emotional aspects sneak up on you and serves as a reminder of how place shapes people, and how returning home can sometimes be the first step toward moving forward.