Bob Ellis directed three feature films. Let that sink in next time you're wondering if boomers weren't spoilt.
Ah look I guess it's not the worst thing - he was literate, a good writer, knew a lot of decent actors. And at least this tries to be something different - an erotic film set on a train.
It's not very sexy though despite Wendy Hughes in the lead. There's little build up to the sex. The sex scenes are mostly someone clambering on top of Hughes.
There's a lot of talk. Apparently Ellis had a longer cut. It probably would've been hard to get through but I think if you make an Ellis film you go with it.
The plot: Hughes is a hooker on a train and she has a series of random encounters - with a football coach (John Clayton) who seems based more on Ellis than his childhood friend Roy Masters, a soldier (Rod Zuanic - remember when he was in every second Australian film?), a travelling salesman (Norman Kaye), a musician (Steven Spears) and a mystery man who works for ASIO (Colin Friels).
It's very Ellis - women are for sex, men talk about themselves, and ASIO plot to kill women loving left leaning politicians. It's not very believable and doesn't quite work but at least it's different. It's one of those films that probably would have come across less silly in French.
The acting is okay. Friels shouldn't have used that Scottish accent. I like movies set on trains.
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