Dummy

When their mother passes away after a lengthy illness, 18-year-old Danny (Aaron Johnson) is left in charge of his precocious 12-year-old brother Jack (Thomas Grant). Unable to cope with the responsibility, Danny finds his life spiralling into despair. Treading an awkward line between soap opera and art movie, Matthew Thompson’s debut feature, shot for a pittance on DV, is by turns predictable, pretentious and moving. The script by Michael Müller is acutely observed, dwelling on the grisly, tragic details of familial loss, while the central players are clearly committed to their roles. But Thompson’s voyeuristic eagerness to confront the harsh realities of grief  presents emotional challenges his young cast are simply unable to meet, resulting in a heartfelt but ultimately unconvincing melodrama.