This article talks about the pre-productiontrouble with the script being too dark, and includes Stephan Elliott talking about the subversive nature of the story and the nostalgia that drove him to write and direct the film.
"It's incredibly subversive - much more than anyhting I've done before."
The film is a showcase for some almost fossilised Australiana. "It's blowing one last big kiss goodbye to the mass of old Australian culture which is disappearing; 50's, 40's, 60's culture which is just about to go - there is beer guzzling, there is sexism aand there is racism and there is more beer guzzling ... you name it, it still exists out there. But slowly the city is trying to pretend that it doesn't. It will eventually disappear; it is disappearing. This is my homage, my goodbye to a great place of Australian culture that I think is just terrific."