Film Review: June Again
Noni Hazelhurst, Claudia Karvan and Stephen Curry in June Again.
June Again premiered at Classic Cinemas in Elsternwick this Monday night to a packed house. The Screen Australia backed film is the first feature for director JJ Winlove, whose casting choices prove even more impressive considering his status as a newcomer.
Noni Hazelhurst is June, the family matriarch currently residing in a dementia ward. Winlove’s opening sequence and Hazlehurt’s performance candidly presents the reality of dementia – it is frustrating, confusing, and rather mundane. However, June experiences what can only be described as a medical miracle when she goes from progressed dementia to complete lucidity overnight. With her new-found cognition, June escapes her aged care home in search of her family. To her shock, much has changed in the years since her diagnosis. June’s son Devon (Stephen Curry) is a divorcee in a dead-end job, estranged from sister Ginny (Claudia Karvan) who works at the family’s flailing screen-printed wallpaper business.
June has been informed that her lucid state is a fleeting one. Accordingly, she uses the time she has and embarks on a last-ditch effort to fix her family. Winlove – who doubles as screenwriter for the film – has done something wonderful with this story. While the audience is expected to more or less suspend their disbelief in the interests of enjoying the film (the fact that June’s lucidity lasts a number of days) – this doesn’t matter so much as the message behind the concept. June immediately resumes her role as matriarch in the way that only a mother can. Hazlehurst as June is aphasic one moment and attempting to save the family business the next. With the lucid miracle that is June, Winlove wants us to know that dementia’s hold never erases the essence of the person behind the illness.
Indeed, while Hazlehurst is flanked by some of Australia’s best in the form of Curry and Karvan, the film is very much hers. Her performance in particular reveals the complexity of family dynamics, and the push-pull of parenting adult children. June is equal parts caring and overbearing, with her need to control existing as a source of tension for the entire family. Beneath this anxiety, though, is a loving mother merely trying to get her family over the proverbial finish line. The mother-daughter sparring between Hazlehurst and Karvan is a highlight in the film, as well as Curry’s performance as an angst-ridden thirty-something man trying to be redeemed.
June Again is a lovely watch, but it occasionally falls short of its goals. For such a powerhouse of a cast, the screenplay isn’t as strong as the talent really deserves. On occasion, the dialogue feels rather wooden, and key revelations are made a little too late in the runtime. Nevertheless, it’s an exciting debut film for Winlove and a great entry into the Australian circuit post-2020. If you want a film that takes an honest look at familial relationships, which breaks your heart and proceeds to mend it in 100 minutes, then June Again is your best bet.
June Again is showing in Australian cinemas from Thursday 6th May 2021.