Film Review - Franklin

Images courtesy of Filmink.

Rivers are a living organism ensconced with currents and enclosed by nature, but boy do they also make for a fine dam. 

Franklin retraces the dilemma the Franklin River faced during the 1980’s as blockade protestors fought to protect a world heritage site that the Tasmanian premier had agreed would make an absolute spectacle of a dam, so much so that an entire documentary can be fleshed out through the epic tug-of-war these lampoons took to the world stage.

The way Oliver Cassidy- son of a late OG blockade protestor who shares a protagonist role throughout the feature alongside his father -  delivers the narrative leaves a lot for audiences to chew on. Walking into the film blind, I thought I’d nailed the plot about three separate times before the ol’ director pulled the rug out from underneath me to reveal that we were merely developing the actual plot. 

Although the journey of self-discovery, enabled by Attenborough-esque views of what remains of the Franklin River today, alongside a step-by-step recount of what I’ve been told are the biggest climate protests Australia has seen to date, succeeds in delivering several compelling stories at once, I do believe that there was a distinct lack of that knock-out blow towards the end. As each storyline resolves, neatly tying up all loose ends, I was brought back to the beginning of the documentary, when I wasn’t sure what message I was supposed to take out of it. 

While the dual narratives were caressing each other, Franklin was a highly engaging piece, rife with twists and turns. I’d personally never heard of this movement and I’m sure without Franklin many others would have failed to see a peak performance of democracy in action. We get to know Oliver in present times as they secure themselves through a treacherous rafting trip, the adage of reconnecting with nature being placed on full display in a way that I can really appreciate. You see, I’m a guy that learns with pictures, not words. So, when I see Oliver having the time of his life, handling bugs, and capping off his dad’s journal, I want to go and do the exact same thing. 

Is Franklin a documentary for climate warriors? Nature enthusiasts? Lovers of Australian history? Soul searchers? Who can say for sure - but I’m sure viewers will each find their own most pressing meaning in it.

Franklin is screening in cinemas from Thursday September 8th.