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APRIL 2016 I’M FREE, TAKE ME
Which achy breaky song are you? Take the Dircksey feels quiz to find out! Are you in touch with your emotions? Yes
No
Can your friends tell when you’re sad? Never
Always
Do your friends even understand you? Nobody understands me
Are you a secret pop star whose dad had that one hit wonder?
Sometimes
You’d rather be hanging out with your woes than doing this quiz.
Yes
No No
Yes Yes
No No
Achy Breaky Heart Billy Ray Cyrus
I’m Not Okay My Chemical Romance
Marvin’s Room Drake
Skinny Love Bon Iver
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what’s on
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Do you have a cool event coming up? Let us know. k.turpin@ecuguild.org.au
APRIL-MAY MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY 1
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The ECU Guild JO: The Hunting Ground (Movie) WASTV ML: Movie Night
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MASN Meetup SW: Every Wednesday 10AM Co-op Cafe
MASN Meetup JO: Every Thursday 10:30AM Cafe 6
RAPROCK @ Babushka ECU JO: Toga Party
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Mid Semester Break Starts
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26
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ECU Buddhist Youth Club JO: 12PM Meditation
Writers’ Night JO (Free )
Japanese Study Society Bowling Night
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WASTV ML: Cinematography Workshop
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WASTV ML: Club Meeting
Mia Simonette @ Esplanade Hotel
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10 Harrison See The Nature of Wanting Exhibition
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Segue Safari @ The Bird
ECU Buddhist Youth Club ML: 5PM Movie Screening
WASTV ML: Club Meeting
Segue Safari Acoustic Set @ The Moon Mia Simonette @ Esplanade Hotel
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The ECU Guild Wine Tour in the Swan Valley
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Artists’ Deadline WA Quidditch Association Easter Fantasy Tournament
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2
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Writers’ Deadline
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SUNDAY
B Team @ Northbridge Piazza: Fresh Prints
Writers’ Night ML (Free ) WASTV ML: Movie Night
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SATURDAY
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ECU Buddhist Youth Club ML: 12PM Meditation Segue Safari @ The Bird
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Japanese Study Society ECU/TCU Quiz Night Tangled Thoughts @ The Rosemount
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ECU Buddhist Youth Club JO: 5PM Movie Screening
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Contributors: Liliosa Castle Joseph de Kock Veronica Lowe Francesca Mann Karina Miyazaki Melody Schnauer Taihra Swaine Michelle Wallace-Beaven
Editor: Kitty Turpin k.turpin@ecuguild.org.au
Music Editor: Mae Anthony music.dircksey@gmail.com
Advertising: Tom Reynolds t.reynolds@ecuguild.org.au (08) 9370 6609
Films Editor: Sarah Stopforth film.dircksey@gmail.com Art & Literature Editor: Rhys Tarling art.dircksey@gmail.com
Artists: Olivia Tartaglia Kaysie Hilton Andrew Tran Oliver Logan Sita Carolina Bridget Neilson Special Thanks To: Cover Photographer: Sarah Stopforth Cover Model: Matthew Pope Logo: Sella Winadi
Next Theme: Away From Home Mon 18th Apr 5PM Contributors Night ML Building 10.307 Thu 21st Apr 6:30PM Contributors Night JO Building 9.207
The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Dircksey Editor(s), sub-editors/ section-editors, Edith Cowan University or the Edith Cowan University Student Guild. Reasonable care is taken to ensure that Dircksey articles and other information are up-to-date and as accurate as possible, as of the time of publication– but no responsibility can or will be taken by the abovementioned entities if an issue of Dircksey has any errors or omissions contained herein.
Online print just got better.
pictondiy.com.au
CONTENTS REGULARS
ARTS & LITERATURE
3 Calendar 6 Editorial
16 17 21 22
FEATURES 7 8 9 10 11 12 14
Period Pains Injection Sites The Fleetingness of Time Gym Aches Got Film Aches? With Veronica Lowe So There We Were... Dircksey Tries Weird Hangover Cures
Between Restauranteur and Biographer Feature: Sita Carolina Creative Writing Book Reviews
MUSIC 23 24 26
Perth Music Spotlight The Pain of Being a Music Fan in Perth Music Reviews
FILM 27 Interview 29 Film Reviews
Art by Olivia Tartaglia
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PRESIDENT’S NOTE I am proud to report that the Guild has interacted with more students during the orientation period than it has in many years, with our ready-packed membership bags nearly running out in record timing (we have more, so get yours quickly!). This is testament to the invaluable efforts of the wonderful students that help the Guild be the go-to organisation for all manners of support when at uni. The Guild has set its bar very high this year, committing to deliver bigger and better events and services for students to continue on its positive trajectory. It has focused the collective students’ efforts this year into supporting the wider student body through providing opportunities to: • develop skills for study and employment outside of uni courses • socialise with peers and enjoy campus culture, and • utilise academic and financial advocacy and support services so that study can be prioritised. Right now, the elected student representatives are working hard to engage the student community to lay down the foundation on key projects that will better student life overall. To name a mere few, there is the “Racism. It Stops With Me” campaign, the survey into students’ experiences in the on-campus housing and the increase in student representation in university decision making bodies to help make students more of a partner in their education. In terms of the Guild internally, it has successfully implemented constitutional reform last year and is enjoying the benefits of these changes through its ability to have more agility in its strategic planning. It is currently recruiting a new permanent Managing Director – this new position will help the Guild achieve its goals and ensure it exists and operates successfully for many years to come. Lewis Price
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EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome back to Dircksey, with the achiest theme of them all (and let’s keep it that way). “Ache” is all about things that make you feel, for example how well the first issue went. “Freshers” had an outstanding reception. The first few weeks of release, the Dircksey Squad received many heart-warming messages. We are still reeling from the kindness you have shown us. With ECU O’Days done and dusted, we could hardly keep up with demand of the first issue of Dircksey for 2016. The only way you can get one now is by picking up a B Team bag from their stall at Fresh Prints on Saturday 16th April at Northbridge Piazza. From the response we had, we thought we were doing an excellent job. Of course, our situation was too comfortable to be true. Whilst finalising the Guild budget for 2016, they found Dircksey would be over-budget by the end of the year. During a ‘casual catch-up’, that took place after the Joodalup O’day (where the #squad had met our orientation hand out goals), I was told my section editors were in the firing line for this miscalculation. Never-the-less, we will break through the boundaries this pay-cut has created and bring you another freshly, ache-filled issue, even if it means we can only afford to run on 1 meal a day rather than 3. I’d like to personally thank everyone who gave up their time to help with this issue. The best feel was seeing all the new faces at the contributor meetings in February. Can’t wait to hear your ideas for our next issue: “Away From Home”. I hope you are all settling into ‘uni lyf’ well. We’re still enjoying our (ex) store-room, hall of printers get up in Mount Lawley Guild. Swing past for a chat.
Kitty Turpin
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Period Pains by Taihra Swaine & Sarah Stopforth
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Injection Sites
by Melody Schnauer
When you’re a person that has an intense fear of needles, you must create a coping mechanism if you need regular injections. There are a lot of different methods: having a cry beforehand, listening to your favourite song on repeat, or cuddling that teddy-bear you’ve had since you were three. For me, I literally block everything out. What’s that, a blood test? Don’t think about it, or the pain. Breathe in. Breathe out. It’s really awkward when someone tries to snap you out of it. Cue my mother giving me my weekly injection. “I’m sorry! Did I do it too slowly?” As she starts to panic, while still managing to inject me, I don’t respond. I keep my Zen, because if I don’t I will start to cry, possibly mess up the injection, make my mother feel horrible, and leave me feeling both guilty and embarrassed. I don’t do this for fun, after all, if I had the choice, I wouldn’t have any injections or take any medication, but life doesn’t always make these things simple. See, I was diagnosed with a chronic condition when I left high school. I was diagnosed with arthritis. I was just getting used to university life when I started visiting doctors. So many 8 / FEATURE
doctors… Rheumatologists, physiologists and the GP here and there. I first noticed something was off when I couldn’t write after an exam. Of course, most people have extreme hand pain after a written exam. I did everything in my power, as a class act bull-shitter, to write my three essays in an hour. Any longer than that, and I’d be in too much pain to write. I nearly cried in an exam, and it wasn’t because I couldn’t answer the question about that reading in Week 3. I totally didn’t read that anyway. Oops… Not sorry, though. As time went on, I found that the pain kept coming. Walk down a street like a normal person? Nope. I had to feel like my leg had dislocated for a minute. Chat with friends and actually be social? Why do that when you can lie on a bed and wait for your back to stop hurting? I once went down stairs, only for my leg to give way in front of fifteen people. I grinned and bared it, but ever since then, I make sure to hold on to the safety bar. My doctor said I had to get injections. This was not okay. Needles. UGH. I’d been withstanding monthly blood-tests with my new-found Zen technique. My pathologist even complimented me and
Art by Kaysie Hilton gave me a snake lolly (best pathologist ever). My doctor insisted, saying that the pain would only get worse if we couldn’t manage it. Grudgingly I agreed to a pen injection. My major mistake. For those that don’t know, pen injections are horrible. The needle jab isn’t the bad part. It’s the liquid being pumped into your body, when your body doesn’t want liquid pumped in. Think of a massive war between the meds and your muscle. I howled the first injection, and because I am a wuss, I made my mother do the deed. She saw exactly how painful it was. Needless to say, she hates giving the injections as much as I hate the injections themselves. Pen injections weren’t working and so I was put on syringe-type injection. Infinitely less painful, so much so, that when I first had it, I barely felt it. I mean… it hurts, and there
will always be side-effects, but hey, no medication is perfect. In the end, it’s a choice I had to make. Leave the injections and pills, and let my body continue to hurt me. Try to grit my teeth and smile. That or I could take the side effects and slight pain, for relief. As my mother frets over putting the needle in too slowly, I just continue to Zen out. When it’s over, and I’m safe from the needle monster, I look at her and tell her that I barely felt a thing. Because by comparison… I didn’t.
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The Fleetingness of Time
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Art by Oliver Logan
by Karina Miyazaki Time is a strange invention, surrounding us and intertwining with our everyday lives. Without the concept of time, how would our lives be? How would we determine birthdays or appointments? Time is essential. Time helps order our chaotic lives.
Perhaps time will slow when I am busier, so I throw myself into more activities. Life becomes a constant stream of events and people; a blur full of plans and preparations for a future that feels as though it will be here any second.
But time seems to disappear so easily – what was an eternity as a child passes in the blink of an eye as an adult, and I find it difficult to believe how quickly it passes. Every so often it hits me that it’s a new month, a new year, even a new decade, but I have few memories of the days gone by. The days blend and blur together until I cannot remember when I did anything, and inevitably I wonder: do the days pass so quickly because nothing worthwhile is happening?
It changes nothing. Time will do what it will, regardless of whether I do nothing or everything. Time is constant and bends to no-one and though the future is a terrifyingly constant thing, sometimes it can also feel an eternity away. Perhaps, time is exactly the speed it needs to be.
A single second of nothingness is a moment lost, forever gone, never to return or be relived. Those empty moments mean I am not doing enough with my time. It doesn’t matter whether I am at home, surfing the internet, at university wondering how this class could help me in the future or at work tired and wishing I was home instead, surfing the internet - beneath everything, there’s always a nagging voice urging myself to be doing more. I could be outside volunteering, making new friends, trying new activities or exploring the world. I want to do more. I need to do more – yet no matter how often I do exactly that, those times when I am doing nothing hits me harder than I ever thought it could.
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Art by Andrew Tran
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Gym Aches by Michelle Wallace-Beaven The 1980’s. It was a decade of excess, big hair, glamour make-up, synthesised pop music and some questionable fashion trends. VCR’s and audio cassette players reined. Stereo systems with gigantic speakers dominated Aussie lounge rooms. The privileged few owned a walkman, allowing the freedom to listen to your favourite cheesy tunes while on the move. The 80’s also saw the emergence of an exciting fitness craze. Aerobics was taking the world by storm. It was a great incentive for women (and some keen men) to improve their fitness but the fashion was more crucial. Blinding florescent, high cut, plunging leotards dominated. Some teaming them up with leggings and leg warmers, others just a G-string leotard not leaving much to the imagination. Looking back it was undoubtedly cringe-worthy. The classes back then were more dance focussed and included some very awkward moves and gyrating. But hey, everyone was doing it and it was a multi-billion dollar industry with actress Jane Fonda and a flamboyant Richard Simmons in his tight, short shorts becoming world-wide ambassadors for the mania. If you couldn’t get to a gym, or let’s be honest, you didn’t really have ‘the look’ for those tight fitting garments, you chose from the thousands of workout videos to enjoy in the convenience of you own lounge room. I was in my late teens when I first took up aerobics in the mid to late-80s and luckily, the fashion had tamed down a touch, but the leotard was still a must. I became a qualified aerobics and gym instructor and taught regular classes which basically comprised of beginners, intermediate or advanced options.
Attack. The last straw for me was the new fad Kettlebell workouts. I had my doubts when I saw participants madly swinging these heavy bell shaped weights willy-nilly during class. It takes a good technique to avoid injury. But with all my knowledge one swing of a light kettlebell and I knew my back was not good. I have always had a bit of a dodgy back, some scoliosis and lugging a heavy school bag on one shoulder for many years has not done me any favours, but this time I could hardly walk. I was in agony. After the usual two classes, six days a week, a back surgeon informed me that those days were over. “Take up walking or swimming. No weights. No high impact exercise”, he said. I am still coming to terms with the fact that I can no longer keep up with my workout buddies. I press my face against the glass like a pathetic puppy in a pet store, where the classes are bursting with gym junkies and my heart aches. The ‘good’ body aches I used to bring home with me have been replaced with age related aches and pains and a degenerating spine, sore knees and a dramatic loss of muscle strength and tone. I can now only do what my aching joints will allow. But it’s not fair! I am 46, not 86! Aches suck. But so did the gym fashion of the 1980’s! C’est la vie.
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Got film aches? Veronica Lowe has you covered...
Have you ever had the ache to find a particular film, only to come to the sad realisation that you don’t own the film? Well, I’ve found a way of finding those beloved films without forking out a heap of cash: watching them online, legally. One day I was on Facebook (surprise, surprise) and found this ad from RMIT advertising that all ECU students get free access to their educational database complete with movies, TV series and documentaries.
Excitedly, I signed up right away and found out that it was legitimate – all that is required is that you’re a current student. Looking on the database I found quite a few films that I recognised and immediately settled in to watch the awkwardness of Ellen Page and Michael Cera in Juno. I was instantly hooked on the quality of the database, as a teacher myself, and added films to the favourites section such as the Harry Potter series, Lord of the Rings, Matilda and almost all of the Disney and Pixar film collections. I would definitely recommend for you to check out the link below and explore for yourself, whether it’s using the database for a teaching resource, or for curing the deep ache to watch a favourite film. edutv.informit.com.au/login.php
Fast forward to 2016 and times and fashions have certainly changed. With fitness gurus such as Michelle Bridges now the new role models for health and well-being, the focus is more on staying strong and having a buff six pack and an athletic physique. I may be the same age as Ms Bridges but my body has not taken too kindly to the years of training and the newer fitness regimes of Pump, Body Combat and Body FEATURE / 11
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so there we were but I wasn’t there for you by Asia Joan
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Sitting on a bench somewhere I can’t remember in the inner city of Melbourne, as I try to stop my sobbing and to catch my breath to the normal pace it should be. My partner (now an ex-partner, let’s name him ‘Jim’) insisting that everything was okay. I’ll always remember his tone of voice and those words: ‘WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!’
The whole trip away I felt unsettled, lonely and out of place. I did feel terrible for Jim, as this trip was for his work and I was supposed to have been there to support him. Even though I had Jim with me, I was definitely not fit for the trip, with being prescribed anti-depressants which I’ve never experienced taking before. It was the worst decision to have gone away in the first place.
He told me that I was over reacting. This was our first trip together flying to Melbourne, then to New Zealand. We were on a tram, and I happened to not make it on time to get off at our stop. Jim didn’t notice he had gotten off before me. I yelled out to the tram driver, but nothing… I had this overwhelming sensation come over me as I was left on the tram. Watching him through the window, Jim yelled out to just get off at the next stop, he’ll meet me there. Although he had reassured me I felt panic mode kick in. I was upset. There were the waterworks, and my breathing which I couldn’t control. A strange, sad girl from Perth who couldn’t get off a tram on time. Who was having a panic attack over it.
Before going on this trip I had seen a psychiatrist - it was the beginning to my therapy plan. September 2012, I finally came to terms that I needed help. I couldn’t deal with the shitty feelings and the constant sadness. Studying full-time, working part-time, living and sharing a house with a partner who was also suffering from depression and anxiety had cast a spell on me. I was run down, wanted to stay in bed all the time. Work was more than a hassle. I eventually stopped going. The only thing I held onto was my studies. I couldn’t even prioritise my friends that year. Looking back now, I think I was in a different world. I had isolated myself and stayed home a lot. So there we were but I wasn’t there for myself.
Going to the doctor was tough. I was in denial. My mum said that she doesn’t believe in depression and taking meds for it. From age 18 to my early 20s, I had moved house several times, and so I didn’t have a regular doctor I committed to. I went to a busy medical centre, the doctor did a blood test to rule out iron deficiency and diabetes for my fatigue symptoms. The results came out negative, with an additional appointment I was referred to a specialist. He suggested for me to go see a psychiatrist, with prescriptions for Ativan and Loxalate to treat my anxiety and depression. The plan to see a psychiatrist once a week was impractical. I couldn’t afford it, so I stopped going. A year and a bit went by and I relapsed. The second time I went back my doctor had moved clinics and so I was referred to the next recommended doctor. He just prescribed me a different brand of anti-depressant and off I went on my journey to recovery. Of course, that wasn’t good enough. I had to find my own way of healing and getting back on to the right path of healthy mind and body. I did it on my own volition. Something clicked, and I had to start making
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changes for myself. I felt unhappier knowing that the way I was was affecting people around me; especially the ones I love. We should all be aware that this is a common issue. I have been realising or finding out that those close to me have also dealt with or still are dealing with mental health issues. It does feel like a big sad world sometimes.
darkest times I’ve shared with someone.
keeping calm and actually taking time to relax.
I hope everyone can identify what’s unhealthy and seek help.
One of the most important things I’ve learnt is to be self-aware. And recognising symptoms before it gets worse. Being introspective made me realise that this was all interrelated with childhood. I used to be a sensitive kid. I remember in primary school I was easily overwhelmed by things and often cried in class. I had symptoms of depression and anxiety at the age of 13-16, around the time of my parents’ divorce. Things carried through to adulthood, because nobody recognised my symptoms at the time.
I am currently in my third year of studies, working two jobs, and doing an internship. Yes – busy schedule. But only for this year. I am experiencing what it is to work really hard
Facts: ‘In Australia, it’s estimated that 45% of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. In any one year, around 1 million Australian adults have depression, and over 2 million have anxiety.’ – Beyond Blue Australia ‘Those aged 18-24 have the highest prevalence of mental disorders of any age group.’ – Black Dog Institute
This series of mine happened four years ago. Juggling work, first year of uni, dealing with depression and anxiety plus looking after another person with mental health issues equals relationship killer. We couldn’t look after each other, as we couldn’t look after ourselves. I admit that it had been one of the
and to be goal orientated. It’s a life-style change I’ve promised to commit to in order to stay mentally healthy. Learning that exercise and daily routine is key. Along this journey I’ve sought help through: self-help books, true friends and family, healthy food, and hugs from my fur babies. Time for yourself is essential, and so is mindfulness -
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If you’re not sure about your mixed feelings, talk about it with your friends or family member, or read-up about it, and when you are ready go talk about it with an expert: au.reachout.com headspace.org.au youthbeyondblue.com You’re never alone. Please look after yourselves.
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Dircksey tries weird hangover cures from around the world
by Liliosa Castle In the pursuit of scientific revelation and quality journalism, I made my friends get really drunk and test some international hangover cures that may or may not help you get through the year.
Name: Hamish Studies: Engineering Drinking: Irish Cream Cure: Prairie oyster (tomato juice, raw egg, salt & pepper, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce) Origin: USA Logic: Tomato juice is high in vitamin C and eggs are full of protein… the sauces must be to make it… taste… good? Careful not to break the yolk if you want the full “oyster’ experience. Comments: I didn’t make it to the egg part, but it was terrible. 0/5
Name: Allayna Studies: Early childhood Drinking: White wine Cure: Cooked English breakfast (vego edition) Origin: England Logic: Protein, fat and salt help revive your liver and recover lost electrolytes. Comments: Any excuse to go to Freo’s Ootong and Lincoln for breakfast is a win. 5/5
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Name: Breyten Studies: Anthropology Drinking: Red wine Cure: Stick 13 black headed pins into the cork from the bottle of wine Origin: Haiti Logic: Ancient Voodoo technique that claims to take the power of the wine away Comments: I’m not sure if the curse that has inevitably been set on the house was worth a reduced hangover. Time will tell I guess! 2/5
Name: Shane Studies: IT Drinking: Beer Cure: Rub a lemon slice under your drinking armpit before drinking Origin: Puerto Rico Logic: ??? I have no idea. Apparently something to do with dehydration, but there is little to no logic behind this. Comments: One word - sticky. No signs of improvement. 1/5
Name: Liliosa Studies: Primary education Drinking: Vodka and redbull Cure: Bury yourself to the neck in wet sand Origin: Ireland Logic: The idea behind this is that the cold river sand of Ireland will increase circulation, like a cold shower. This is hard to test on a 31° Perth day. Comments: Although lying in the cool wet sand listening to the waves was actually super relaxing, digging the hole was way too much effort. 3/5
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Between Restauranteur and Biographer by Rhys Tarling Between Satan and Saint. I took a seat at a table while Karl excused himself. The walls of the cottage-like Cafe Mueller are adorned with handsome black and white portraits of Hollywood celebrities (James Dean, Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and the like) juxtaposed with canvases of Mueller’s own work – abstract paintings as adoring tributes to salaciousness.
brilliant... on another plane... but still ate like a child. And he always had this strange way of talking – always with him there was a train of thought that derailed.”
Karl giggled at his recollection as he handed me the print-out cover of Between Satan and Saint. The top left corner was plastered with a picture of the aforementioned professor pulling a whimsical expression, ‘Between Satan and Saint’ was messily scrawled in the centre; the white font of the A vinyl player occupied a space title popped against the deep-red near the cash register, trinkets and coloured backdrop. The cover for dolls were placed in an ordered this biography had the intimacy fashion on top of a piano, which of a handmade birthday card from was located next to the kitchen. your oldest friend. Cafe Mueller is too endearingly odd to be labelled as something “He was a writer, too. Prolific. as generic as a restaurant. Heck, Wrote, I think, over 50 books in people’s homes don’t usually lay his lifetime. First book published Karl Mueller has been running a bare their quirks and interests when he was 19. small restaurant in Midland for so starkly. We became friends. And one over two decades. It’s called Cafe night, when we were both digging Mueller, and it’s located on an Karl arrived with two tall glasses into our veal cutlets in a fancy out-of-the-way suburban street. filled with fresh juice. We clinked restaurant, he told me, completely The locale is so unusual that if it our glasses and drank – a welcome out of the blue that he was Hitler’s were your first time checking the respite from the seasonably and personal translator. Was, in fact, place out you’d be convinced your unreasonably hot afternoon. often in the same room as Hitler GPS led you astray. We got to talking about the and Goebbels. man between Satan and Saint, “A strange time to drop that,” I I’ve been there a handful of times, Professor Herbert Melzig. remarked. yet I still get a strange feeling “Well...when would be a not when I step inside the restaurant. “I met him in when I was living strange time to drop that?” Karl The strange feeling was in Sydney, in 1988. He and his countered. compounded by the fact that wife were my neighbours. She I had to concede his point. it wasn’t going to be open for a invited me over for tea. My god, few hours and that Karl was, for The professor was a messy eater. “The professor told me he fled some reason, kind enough to Just...” Karl then mimed, I assume, from Germany in 1937. This accept my request for an interview strands of spaghetti, crumbs, and was around the time when concerning a biography he’s other bits of food falling from his people’s backgrounds were being been working on for three years, beard. “You know? But his mind... investigated. The professor was
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Jewish, you see.” Karl then motioned me forward, as if letting me in on a secret; an amusing gesture as we were in an empty and closed restaurant. “The professor killed six men. There were two attempts on his life, the first in Turkey and the second in Geneva. He’s not a murderer, you understand. It was self defence,” he insisted, thoughtfully covering for the possibility that I might be a person who would cast aspersions upon someone who killed a few Nazis.
did not do.” “And... you’re sure?” I asked. “I believe what my friend told me.” He picked up the print-out copy of the cover and absent-mindedly fiddled with it. “But... sometimes... I don’t know.” Karl proceeded to lighten the mood with a joke, as if it were a knee-jerk reaction to keep doubts at bay.
“The professor was...hated. His children hated him. There was this book about the Nuremberg trials, I do forget the name of it, but he’s mentioned in it, briefly. He did some things, yes. But what he was accused of in that book, he
Due to legal hurdles that come with publishing a book of this nature, Karl is aiming to have Between Satan and Saint published by 2019.
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With the clock ticking closer to opening time, I asked a final question. “Between Satan and Saint – Satan refers to Hitler, right? Who does I asked some questions about the Saint refer to?” the professor’s whereabouts and “The professor was a close friend activities between 1937 and 1988, to Angelo Roncalli, who later but Karl was, somewhat ruefully, became Pope Saint John XXIII. not forthcoming. Melzig and I went to Vatican City, “I’m sorry, I don’t want to say too see...” Karl showed me a strange much about that. Suffice it to say, photo – it appeared to be dead it will be a large focus of the book holy man encased in a crystalline and some of the information is... tomb. The next photo was less quite surprising.” jarring – Karl and Herbert Melzig, exhausted but smiling, in the “Where was the professor when he streets of Vatican City. died?” I asked. “The professor’s and Saint John’s Karl shook his head sadly, “I don’t friendship is one of the key things know. I couldn’t even procure his I’m exploring in the book,” death certificate. He vanished said Karl. without a word a few decades ago. The last thing he said to me was I shook Karl’s hand, and thanked ‘I want you to write something him for his time and the about me.’ fruit juice.
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If I could understand, I would, No matter how hard, I wish I could, Even if you try to show me, Even if I think I understand, I know I don’t, and I won’t.
Photographer: Sita Carolina - Precious S2 Photography Designer & Stylist: Kim Nguyen Model: Jenny Vu This project was about trying to visualise pain and struggles of a person with Lupus, an autoimmune disease which is largely invisible and more common than most people think. There are many other conditions which fall into the same ‘invisible illness’ category. Even though someone looks ‘normal’ it doesn’t always mean they’re ‘fine’.
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Ballads For...
the rape of ache
The notes from the piano keys dissipated into a black hole of drunken apathy. The singer’s sleepy, sultry snarl was barely in time with what, I guess, you could call a melody. The customers were slumped, defeated. A few were listlessly circling the tops of their glasses with their fingers. The lighting of the place – harsh, garish reds, and yellow, piss-hued windows - completed the sorry picture.
the ache begins while you are still buzzing : that lick of MSN in your joints as it’s settling, that scraping metal
The person I was there to meet, Selina, I met once before. We only had Nat in common. Selina and Nat were a thing for a long while. And then me and Nat were a thing; I’m crazy about her, my first love. I’m Kara, by the way.
din of feeling your high slowly die, god knows why but you want an -other, just to top it up . brother
by Dr. Van Nostraand
I took a seat in an empty booth. And I waited. “Kara,” said someone. Her head was newly shaved. I saw two me’s clearly reflected in the scarlet tint of her lenses. The person sat opposite me without further explanation. “Forgive the sunglasses. Not having them on makes people uncomfortable.” “Well...I’m at ease.” I was so uncomfortable. “Thank you for agreeing to meet me.” Selina. “Well...Nat wanted me to. It’s not – yeah, I don’t know you. I’m here because of her.” “Nevertheless.” She sipped from her double whiskey. With a shrug, she proceeded to swallow every drop in one go without so much as grimacing, which I had to begrudgingly respect. “Natasha and I are still in contact. Did you know that?” I didn’t. “We tell each other everything,” I said. “I see. What you don’t know, because I know Natasha better than you do – not a knock on you, it’s just we’ve known each other our whole lives – is how happy you make her. It makes me sick how happy you make her. The first time she met you, she cried afterwards. What a sight it was; my goodness, what I’d give to be able to make her cry like that. She cried because it dawned on her how...small her life had been until she met you. “She apologised for saying that to me. We’re in the habit of telling each other intimate details about our lives, so hurtful things will be said, right?” She said this with geniality. Like it was nothing. I would have almost been fooled if it weren’t for her tears. “I’m not sure what-” Selina removed her sunglasses. Her eyes were two small pools of milk. The hazelnutcoloured iris was an echo of something that was once vibrant. I have to admit....she was beautiful. She caressed the contours of my face with a practiced motion. Her brow furrowed, as if in concentration. The singer’s voice reached an unexpected, wailing crescendo, like she was attempting to smash the monotonous apathy. A smattering of applause, and a half hearted growl - “Yeah.” Selina’s brow relaxed as she removed her hand from my face. “Okay then,” was all she said. She smiled comfortlessly, and then left. Selina killed herself the next day. I tried to be a comfort to Nat but every word I spoke, or gesture I made, shattered. So I tried nothing – I would simply be here today, and promise to be there tomorrow. During the amber-coloured crispness of the parks in Autumn and through the cloudless days of the city in Summer we were, together, blue. One grey afternoon, Nat asked me not to be there tomorrow. The sorry looking bar isn’t such a bad place to kill time. Same lousy singer, though. Her songs now end in a husky whisper. She probably decided for herself that the wailing crescendo wasn’t worth it for a muted reaction. I’m listlessly circling the top of my third glass of beer, staring at my phone...vainly hoping for a message to light up this lonely booth. 22 / ARTS & LITERATURE / CREATIVE
by Scott Patrick Mitchell
help a brother out, c’mon gimme a shout. i can see you next tuesday, y’know i’m good to pay. it’s a mad meth hell of chasing the whack , embracing the lack as the pain attacks. emptiness is an empty bag. psychosis is for the soft cock mad. & when the shadows speak , the hunger creeps, & it becomes a rape of ache that greets, from crown to feet , wanting the heat as you push the needle in & let the meth mouth mumble & speak
DIRCKSEY
ISSUE 2: ACHE
BOOK REVIEWS Disgrace
Nausea
J. M. Coetzee, 1999
Jean-Paul Sartre, 1938
Disgrace, by J. M. Coetzee, is certainly not a book for the faint-hearted. When a university lecturer, David Lurie, has an affair with a student, his life is thrown into turmoil. Losing his job and home, he flees the city to live on a farm with his daughter. He is forced to confront the changing social climate in post-apartheid South Africa, as well as a disturbing attack on his family. The story delves deep into themes of the loss of authority and sexuality, as well as the transition of power dynamics within a country. While it is well written and presents many interesting ideas, it is definitely intended for a mature audience. A challenging, engaging book and great if you’re looking for a serious novel.
Nausea is Jean-Paul Sartre’s debut novel and considered by the author to be his best work. The novel was written over four years, a fact which emphasizes the theme of Nausea – that time is unceasing, and memory unreliable. Our protagonist Antoine is a complicated character; he constantly wrestles with his motivations, trying to grasp at a reason for being, or even the words to describe what ‘being’ is; his only intellectual counterpoint in the story is an eccentric bank teller called The Self-Taught Man, whom he secretly loathes. The novel is presented as a diary, but Antoine’s increasingly surreal descriptions of life soon take on the air of paranoid fiction, in a similar vein to authors Franz Kafka or Knut Hansun. This book is overwhelmingly confusing at times, although it is definitely worth the challenge. And a second read.
Melody Schnauer
Joseph de Kock
South of the Border, West of the Sun
The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath, 1963
Haruki Murakami, 1992 “Do you think it’s true…that parents of only children don’t get on?” Haruki Murakami has a romantic way with words. At least it appears that way in Philip Gabriel’s English translation from the original Japanese. South of the Border follows the life of an only child, Hajime, in post-World War II Japan, who befriends a polio survivor in his class, Shimamoto. Incidentally, she is also an only child. He is bewitched by Shimamoto, and throughout his life, even after losing touch with her, often imagines being with this girl from his past. Hajime has a strange way of thinking that isolates him from the people around him. However, being an only child myself, I felt I could relate to his outlook on life. South of the Border is beautifully mature in content and an interesting read. Kitty Turpin
First published under the pseudonym ‘Victoria Lucas’ a month before Plath’s suicide, The Bell Jar starts off like any Young Adult novel, albeit with a very eloquent protagonist. Esther Greenwood’s day to day issues are somewhat trivial; not knowing how to order drinks, being a third wheel, wondering what to do after graduation, but as the semi autobiographical story goes on, it lowers you deeper into the well of mental illness and Plath’s writing becomes increasingly poetic, cynical and haunting. It’s a privilege to have this insight into her tragic and invaluable mind. Read this in a hot bath with a glass of straight vodka, lying under a fig tree, or on a bus bound for Chicago.
Liliosa Castle
Read a book lately? Send us your review: art.dircksey@gmail.com
ARTS & LITERATURE / 23
DIRCKSEY
ISSUE 2: ACHE
The Pain of Being a Music Fan in Perth by Francesca Mann
Summer of 2010-2011, the Perth music scene was buzzing and the popular music festivals have made sure to visit the West. Stereosonic kicked festival season off with Armin Van Buuren and LMFAO, visiting in November. Interpol, Joan Jett and The Living End graced us with their presence in January with Southbound. In February Tool, M.I.A and The Bloody Beetroots played at Big Day Out. March saw Iron Maiden, Queens of the Stone Age and Rob Zombie rock out at Soundwave; and The Chemical Brothers, Pendulum and Dizzee Rascal dance through the night at Future Music Festival. Perth was having the musical time of its life, with our favourite bands finally visiting. Suddenly, while we were all on such a high, they were almost all gone.
This should have set off alarm bells, but all seemed well when Revolution was officially announced, including a date for the Perth leg of the tour. The line-up boasted Van Halen, Alice Cooper, Panic! At the Disco and many more international bands. It seemed too good to be true. It was. Soundwave Revolution was officially cancelled in August, with Maddah stating that many of the bands would play mini-festivals in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Perth had come so close to being included, only to be snubbed last minute.
Montaigne (Photo by Bridget Neilson) Anyone that has lived in Perth knows how rarely we get to see our favourite bands visit our beautiful city. National tours are announced that completely ignore the West. Worldwide tours will only focus on Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and local Eastern State bands seem to forget that Perth exists – despite them having a surprisingly large fan base here. We’ve all hit up our favourite bands Facebook page and Twitter accounts to express how heartbroken we are over the fact they ‘forgot’ to come to Perth. There never seems to be a good enough reason, or at least one that will make up for the fact we’ve, yet again, been forgotten.
An uneasy vibe set in at Perth festivals. Everyone was on-edge about whether 2012, or 2013 could be the last year they got to see a bunch of incredible bands So what is the excuse? Is it the fact It started with the sudden rise and fall for a decent price. we’re over 3000kms away from the next of Soundwave Revolution in the later major city? Is the cost to transport part of 2011. The mysterious tweets In 2014, all our worst nightmares came equipment, merchandise, crew and the claiming there’d be a new festival true. Maddah confirmed that 2014 was band that high? As a band making their in town excited us all, until festival the last time Soundwave would grace own way around Australia, the cost organiser, AJ Maddah, tweeted that the Perth, and it appeared it would also be for flights, extra baggage and hotels is scheduled announcement had been the last year for Big Day Out. A year obviously going to skyrocket with more postponed while he “works out what to later, Future Music Festival’s Perth leg cities they visit. As a band touring for a do about Perth.” also bit the dust. festival, the organisers are subsidising 24 / MUSIC
DIRCKSEY
ISSUE 2: ACHE
Boy & Bear (Photo by Bridget Neilson)
Art of Sleeping (Photo by Bridget Neilson) the cost, and the bands are usually getting paid a ridiculous amount (Soundgarden were promised $2.1 million for the 2015 Soundwave) to be there. It’s not all bad news. We may have lost some major music festivals - particularly those that cater to fans of rock n’ roll – but this has opened the door to a multitude of new, quirky festivals. For example, Groovin’ the Moo has evolved from a tiny, folk-like festival to a massive rock and indie music extravaganza, as well as providing a stage for local bands. December last year saw a brand new festival start up: Disconnect. The festival dragged music lovers to Fairbridge Village in Pinjarra for three days with unpowered camping sites, communal showers and a smorgasbord of music,
comedy and events. Despite being first and foremost a music festival, Disconnect became so much more – an experience away from civilisation in the picturesque Peel region that forged memories that will last a lifetime. Yes, musicians still regularly skip Perth (Madonna, we’re looking at you) but more and more artists are remembering Perth. Let’s be honest, how often do you see “Please come to Perth!” compared to “Please come to Brazil!!” on your favourite bands Facebook posts? It could be a lot worse. See more of Bridget’s work on Instagram: @bridgetnphoto
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DIRCKSEY
ISSUE 2: ACHE
Perth Music Spotlight There are many innovative things happening in Perth. However, in the mix and muddle of everyday life and our access to the Internet resulting in everything being thrown at us all at once - not dissimilar to the predicament of trying to decide what to wear when you’re already ten minutes late for work and there is shit everywhere - it is no wonder that many great musical projects go straight over our heads. Here is a space to stop time, or at least slow it down, to look at a minuscule selection of great people you should be checking out.
John Martyr’s Ghost
Photo by Rachael Barrett soundcloud.com/john-martyr facebook.com/johnmartyrsghost
The post-apocalyptic folk sound of John Martyr’s Ghost is like nothing I have ever heard from a local band. The sound is unique and immediately engaging. I first heard the low, warm voice of John Martyr at the cosy four5nine bar in North Perth with band members Jake Chaloner, William Langdale, Thomas Kenny and Daniel Harrison. Their set began with a few upbeat numbers and Martyr’s voice intrigued me. What really got me going was the folk essence of the whistling and the lyrical guitar lines: I thought, “finally – someone who is out there experimenting with folk in a traditional way,”. This, mixed with moody effects and various electronic additions, makes for a really unique sound.
Mia Simonette
Mia Simonette is a local Perth singer-songwriter who delves into jazz, soul and pop genres. Two of my favourite tracks by Simonette are her original ‘Can’t Shake You’ recently released online through her SoundCloud page in early January and her cover of Jefferson Airplane’s ‘Somebody to Love’. Her original track is by far my favourite of her small collection of original releases, not to discredit the others that explore a refreshing 2000s pop sound revival that reminds me of Destiny’s Child. However, ‘Can’t Shake You’ blends pop with soul, alchemising soulful melodies, heavy textures, and a groove that won’t quit. Mia regularly performs with some of Perth’s most accomplished Jazz performers, most regularly Freddie Grigson (guitar) and local Perth musicians Thomas Freeman, Oscar van Gass, Billy Dana, Sascha Seabourne, Chris Foster, and more. Mia is an exciting, refreshing, and talented singer, who is definitely worth checking out.
Photo by Russell Barton at The Scene Team soundcloud.com/mia-simonette facebook.com/miasimonettemusic
Tangled Thoughts of Leaving
Photo by Paul Briggs tangledthoughtsofleaving.com facebook.com/tangledthoughtsofleaving
26 / MUSIC
Tangled Thoughts of Leaving are an instrumental band formed in Perth. Since 2008, they have conceived nine major releases portraying a variety of creative instrumental tracks. Their original compositions experiment with prog-rock and electronic sounds and I am drawn to how these sounds make up complex homophonic textures that scaffold layer upon layer throughout. What I find most exciting about this band’s compositions is the complexity of them: one can sit and listen intensely and hear all of the ideas weaving in and out. However, this does not mean it doesn’t make for great background music. I recommend listening to all of their music, but as a starter I’d say the ‘Deep River’s Run Quiet’ single release and ‘Yield To Despair’.
DIRCKSEY
ISSUE 2: ACHE
MUSIC REVIEWS Live at Carnegie Hall
Back To Bedlam James Blunt, 2003
Ryan Adams, 2015 If you have never heard of Ryan Adams until this moment, this needs to change. Adams is arguably one of the finest songwriters of his generation, having over fourteen studio albums, his recent live show at the infamous Carnegie Hall in New York City. The album showcases his best songs, written over more than a decade. Some versions sound better than the studio. Not only is Adams one hell of a live performer, but also cracks jokes and tells anecdotes, keeping the audience totally enthralled by his aura, charisma and storytelling. Every song has such intense emotion; I really do ache all over when I hear him sing some of his songs, particularity ‘The Rescue Blues’. It’s achingly beautiful. Sit down with a glass of wine, put on this album, and let the words and the music of Ryan Adams Live at Carnegie Hall wash over you, like sunlight. Sarah Stopforth
At a digestible 40 minutes and a glossy production, Back To Bedlam (2005) succeeds in its modest ambitions as musical Xanax. For anyone looking for something more than that, Back to Bedlam is a collection of – with a couple of exceptions - cliched sweet nothings. James Blunt’s effeminate, wistful falsetto calls to mind the late and great Elliott Smith. This makes the pap either more irritating because it’s wasted in service to lyrics carefully crafted for no impact, or more palatable because at least his vocals are a delight. I still haven’t decided. ‘Wiseman’ is the standout, with descriptive lyrics that I can at least buy were written by a human and not an algorithm, and backed by a genuinely introspective sounding melody, makes for a lovely song. ‘You’re Beautiful’ is a bowl of tepid mayonnaise. Back to Bedlam is a calculated and annoyingly inoffensive album. Rhys Tarling
Little Girl Blue
(What’s the Story) Morning Glory
Nina Simone, 1958
Oasis, 1995 Little Girl Blue is the debut album by legendary jazz singer, pianist, and songwriter, Nina Simone. Released on June 24, 1958, this album is a heartthrobbing collection of 30s and 40s jazz standards by monumental composers Duke Ellington, Rodgers, Hart, Hammerstein, George and Ira Gershwin, and many others. These masterpieces are achy enough but combined with Simone’s melodious bellowing voice and gut-wrenching piano lines, this album is a tender musical gem. The arrangements of the standards are impeccable, something that can be attributed to Simone’s African-American roots and her avid love of all things classical music. Upbeat tracks, like ‘Mood Indigo’, leave one jumping and jiving, dancing away those blues. The incredible piano playing exemplifies on the album (tracks ‘Little Girl Blue’ and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’) makes you want to sink back into an armchair, close your eyes, and reflect. Mae Anthony
In 1995, Liam Gallagher’s beautiful achy voice graced our ears for Oasis’ second studio album release, Morning Glory. Just short of an hour long, the album features the best of the Brit-Pop era. Don’t even try to defend Blur here. Oasis won that fight fair and square. Each song is refreshingly different, making it an easy listen from start to finish. 21 years after its release, I am still spinning this CD on repeat after a hard day or some heart-break and screaming the lyrics. 21 years, and people are still covering ‘Wonderwall’. ‘Wonderwall’ isn’t the only thing this album has to offer though. Some songs of particular note are…actually I’ll end up listing all of them. The vibe of this album is uplifting, even if its lyrical content isn’t, but I always feel better after listening to it.
Kitty Turpin
Have an EP, CD or Single coming out? Send it to us at: music.dircksey@gmail.com
MUSIC / 27
DIRCKSEY
ISSUE 2: ACHE
Ewen Leslie: The Wild Duck to The Daughter Words by Sarah Stopforth
The Daughter (Simon Stone, 2015) You’re originally from Perth and you studied at WAAPA, how do you think this helped you in your career? EL: I grew up in Freo and I did a kids TV show there called Ship To Shore. It’s the cliché story. My mum saw an ad in the paper asking for kids to audition. I did an audition and they whittled us down to twenty kids and we did a week audition at WAAPA. My first memory of ECU and WAAPA was when I was 12 and doing these weeklong workshop/ audition for this TV show. Out of that, when I graduated from high school, I got accepted into WAAPA, and was there for 3 years. On top of that, my dad was a lecturer at ECU in the media department. He lectured photography, so I’d also been there as a kid growing up. I used to sneak in and use the editing facilities on videos. ECU has had a big part of my growing up in WA. I suppose the good thing with WAAPA is that it’s a really prestigious school that’s kind of removed from the industry, so you get the opportunity to fall on your arse, which is good. At the end of the three years we came over here [Melbourne] and did a showcase. I feel like all the stuff I did in Perth was a great foundation for setting up some remnants of a career. How did you find when you moved away from Perth, how did get to where you are now? EL: I found it pretty tricky at first. I found Sydney pretty hard. I was 17 when I got into WAAPA, which I think nowdays is pretty regular. I think they do tend to take people quite young, but back then they wouldn’t. I remember there was a lot of umming and ahhing about whether or not to take me on. I didn’t get in, then I got on the residents list, then someone pulled out somewhere. I didn’t fully understand it until I moved to Sydney at the age of 19, 20 and then I realised; I had gone through very young. The great thing about being so removed is that you get the opportunity to fall on your arse without industry watching you do it. The flipside is that they haven’t watched you for the three years, and it takes a bit of time to build up a name for yourself and for people to get to know you and see your work. The first thing I did over here, I mean I didn’t really work for about three and a half to four years. I did an 28 / FILM
Ewen Leslie stars in the critically acclaimed Australian film The Daughter, alongside Geoffrey Rush and Sam Neil. Ewen has been acting since the age of 12 and graduated WAAPA in 2000. Since then he has performed in a variety of roles; from being cast by Philip Seymour Hoffman in Riflemind, Hamlet, and Brick Pollitt in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on the stage and film roles in Jewboy, Dead Europe, Deadline Gallipoli, countless short films and television. Ewen was in Melbourne, downing his third coffee as we spoke.
episode of All Saints and stuff like that. I started working at this pub called the Old Fitzroy Hotel and there was a theatre underneath where you could put on plays where you didn’t get paid for them. Friends of mine had written shows and were putting them on and I started doing co-op theatre. People coming along to see that was how I managed to start getting work, but it really did take me quite a bit of time to get the ball rolling. What was it like taking your original character in The Wild Duck and then reshaping him into Oliver for the screen adaptation, The Daughter? EL: It was really different. I was a bit taken aback when I first read the film script. He’d totally re-written it. In the play, which is on at the Perth Festival, it’s a different cast but it still has some original people in it. In the play [Oliver] was sort of a middle class photographer who lived in an apartment in inner city Sydney. Then I got the script and he’s a working class forklift driver at a sawmill, in an isolated house in a small country town. Day one I was shooting the bar scenes with Paul Schneider and Simon [Stone] was giving me all this direction. He was saying “that’s wrong, that’s wrong, that’s wrong, basically it’s the opposite of what you did in the play,”. I thought going into it that I’d be a step ahead of everyone. I was like “okay, you’re working with all these amazing people, but don’t worry you’ve done the play, you’re ahead of them”. In fact I was back at square one, except I had all this baggage of the play. It was ultimately a good experience because the pressure of having to deliver some sort of definitive version of the play, it disappeared, because it was going to be an entirely new thing. You played your role in The Daughter so well, and so intensely, I enjoyed it. What was the most challenging part of exploring this new character of Oliver? EL: You know what’s funny? The scenes obviously in the back end of the film are really tricky. They are scenes that you do worry about, because they’re so emotional and they’re constantly on your mind, you’re like “right that scenes coming up, when are we doing that?”. You do
DIRCKSEY go through the schedule and go, “when do I have to do those?”. We shot so quickly that you don’t have too much time to really reflect on how something went. There’s a big argument scene between Miranda [Otto] and I at a wedding and that was one of the first scenes that Miranda and I shot together. It’s all out of order and you just have to throw yourself into it and hope for the best. I think, what I did really like about the character is that he’s someone who doesn’t realise that he might be one of the leading characters. He’s completely unaware. All these characters around him are aware of these stakes, and are going “aw man when is the shit going to hit the fan, is the shit going to hit the fan?”. Oliver is completely unaware that this is happening. Then all of a sudden, he’s completely thrown into the eye of the storm. It’s a really jolting journey for him. It goes one-eighty for him really quickly. He’s not equipped to deal with a lot of the scenarios that he’s thrown into. Obviously he doesn’t make fantastic decisions and he doesn’t behave in the best way at times.
ISSUE 2: ACHE
You’ve played such a huge variety of roles from theatre to film to television, you seem like you’ve done most of it. Do you know what you’d like to do next? EL: I’m not sure. I’m really bad. I’ve been lucky in the sense that there have been a few theatre directors that have gone “is there anything you’d like to do?” and I’m really bad at coming up with a good answer for it. It’s just what I respond to when I read it. To be honest, The Wild Duck, I’d never even heard of that play, I’m embarrassed to say. It’s good, it’s turned into something that’s incredibly close to me, but it really came out of left field. I love Shakespeare, I’d love to do more Shakespeare. I have done a lot of it, I’ve been really lucky. Geoffrey Rush actually said to me during the shoot, he was talking about the play Coriolanus. He told me “you should do that, because you’re going to find you start missing these roles, you get older and all of a sudden you go, oh I actually can’t do that one anymore”. I’ve never been someone that’s gone “you’re not a real actor unless you do theatre” or “theatre is something you do when you can’t
The Daughter (Simon Stone, 2015) What are your interests outside of acting? EL: I’m a massive film buff. That’s not much different from acting, is it? I’m a huge film nerd, always have been. Growing up as a kid I remember seeing The Never Ending Story. I think I watched that 10 times when it was in the cinema. I’ve always been a huge fan of film. I guess I always kind of knew, even when I did Ship to Shore, I wasn’t that interested in acting. You have to keep doing things over and over and it’s actually pretty boring but I became really excited about the technical side of things, editing and the way it was being shot and the way it was coming together. Besides that, editing has been something that I really enjoy doing and hopefully I get to do more of.
get a film”, I just want to do stuff that I like and work with people that I like. Sometimes it’s about the script and other times it’s about the people.
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DIRCKSEY
ISSUE 2: ACHE
FILM REVIEWS
Only Lovers Left Alive
Léon: The Professional
Jim Jarmusch, 2013 Only Lovers Left Alive is a story of love, life, death and loneliness. A film full of achy feels. Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston undergo incredible transformations into the most stylish vampires you’ve ever seen; if this isn’t couple goals then I don’t know what is. The opening sequence is overlayed with beautiful hypnotic shots, where the audience is introduced to the world Swinton and Hiddleston exist in. Although not much happens throughout the movie, I was still captivated, mainly by the visuals. The use of shapes and colour in this film are the highlights - props to the Production Designer, Marco Bittner Rosser. The colour pallet creates the mood - it makes your skin feel cold but your heart feel warm and the art direction in both characters homes is well done. Although its narrative is a letdown, this film is worth a watch for the actors’ performances and the aesthetics of the film.
Luc Besson, 1994 Léon is the stunning feature film debut of a then 12-yearold Natalie Portman. Portman plays Matilda whose neighbour, Léon, takes her in when she arrives home from the supermarket only to find her family has been killed by cops on a drug hunt. Director, Luc Besson, takes you into the grungy corners of Little Italy and around places in New York City you don’t normally see on film. Léon and Matilda are opposites; the ultimate star crossed lovers (but not actual lovers). Watching these two emotionally damaged characters ‘clean up the city’ (shooting the bad guys) is a thrilling adventure of love, death and vengeance, seeing their relationship grow into a certain kind of love along the way. Both characters long for planting roots; to grow into the soil and not have to run from themselves anymore.
Taihra Swaine
Sarah Stopforth
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
Antichrist
Lasse Hallström, 1993 Of all the movies Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t win an Oscar for, this one bothers me the most. His outstanding performance as Arnie, a developmentally disabled boy who loves climbing water towers, is beyond impressive, especially for the 19 year old’s debut role on the big screen. Johnny Depp, in one of his less eccentric roles, plays his brother Gilbert Grape. In the town of Endora, Iowa, Gilbert’s whole life is committed to supporting his broken but endearing family, who take it for granted. He meets a girl, of course, and she changes his life. This slow moving, sentimental movie gave me an overdose of small town melancholy, but somehow left me feeling that even the bleakest of lives can be full of big possibilities. “But big doesn’t even sum it up, right? That word big… it’s so small.”
Lars Von Trier, 2009 Watching Antichrist is an uncomfortable and nauseating experience that’s akin to binging on human ugliness – the kind that begins as unspeakable grief that slowly builds to a hysterical crescendo of bloody, cathartic violence. It is one of the purest horror films I’ve ever seen. Antichrist is centred on a married couple (‘He’ and ‘She’) who retreat to their cabin in the woods after the death of their newborn. Hoping to heal their grief-stricken hearts and marriage, things take a turn from the miserable to the frightening as the couple descend into madness. For a film that revels in the vile, it is beautiful with a colour palette that conveys the dour atmosphere and the rich vibrancy of nature during autumn. Despite the graphic content, Antichrist is an empathetic portrait of depression and decay.
Liliosa Castle
Rhys Tarling
30 / FILM
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