Set in 1979, Melbourne, the film starts prior to the opening of a David Bowie concert. We are then introduced to a collection of characters, all living out of a two story place, maintained as if by a bunch of pigs. Instead we have a budding band, Dogs In Space, it's lead, Hutchence, in an impressive debut, if acting from experience as a spaced out junkie, dependant on her girlfriend, (Saskia Post) going from job to job. When asked by a stray girl, who's run away from home, "What's it like being in love?", Anna (Post) responds with a not so favourable answer-a line that became locked in my memory. This film is about 20+ sorts who live a life without rule, nor respecting who they are, blinded to the consequences of what may happen when that day of reality will wake them up, and knock em' on the head. That moment comes near the film's end, with one of them o'ding, which is a wake up call, powerful moment. Lowenstein's portrait of disassociated youth is right on the money, where it's blend of comedy and satire blend in well with the real undertone of seriousness, especially that o'd scene that hits you like a hammer. Haywood's brief appearance as a "take no s..t", chainsaw lover, I liked, but it had me trying to figure out, who he was related to here, from which would be a mind wracking waste of time of guesswork. Although it comes off as more of a comedy, the script is a sharp and originals 80's one. Some dialogue is priceless, some moments, memorably funny, like a couple involving an exam stressed student, the most sanest one living in this madhouse, who's got himself into some hot water, when knocking up a loud whale of a woman, who's tracked him down. Another one features a young social worker, who's not of the norm, where in contrast, S.O's would probably really, like to express themselves like that. The cemetery scene where Hutchence is straight, is quite a chilling opposite as to how we've seen him through the whole film, that has him basically a doped up, heroin addicted if childish pig. Of course we're afforded a shot of Lica, the first dog on space where may'be pigs, would of been a more appropriate replacement in it's title. What I loved too was the party scenes, as if the actors threw away the script and used their own pen and brush, which is how it really came across. Hutchence has created an undying, guilty Aussie pleasure of a film, of cult potential, that would be a crime in anyway to tamper with.
Review of Dogs in Space
