There were reviews from both Cannes and the U.S. Both sets of pre-release reviews were quite negative.
"backers were weary of the film after the reaction from test audiences in the U.S. had ranged from "absolute bewilderment to horror".
Elliott was proud to declare he had,
"people walk out, being incredibly angry, screaming and yelling."
In Cannes the industry magazine, "Screen International" described the film as
"Increasingly crude and grotesque, it winds up repellant rather than endearing."
So the early word on the film was that it was not a crowd pleaser. These reviews mention bewilderment, angry, horror, grotesque and repellant. Is this the film Elliott wanted to make? He has said he wanted to say goodbye to the old Australia that is disappearing. Is this the old Australia? And should he be trying to disgust viewers with it if he wants people to appreciate the old Australia? In the next reviews which are mainly Australian we will see that although the majority of the reviewers didn't like the film, some can sort of see a point in Elliotts seeming madness.
BACK or MORE REVIEWS