Christmess Explained

Director:Heath Davis
Producer:
  • Rick Beecroft
  • Heath Davis
  • Daniel Fenech
  • Jai Kemp
  • Mathew McCracken
  • Cindy Pritchard
Screenplay:Heath Davis
Starring:
Music:Matt Sladen
Cinematography:Chris Bland
Editing:Romain Mongin
Studio:
  • Albert Street Films
  • Brick Studios
Country:Australia
Language:English

Christmess is a 2023 Australian Christmas film written and directed by Heath Davis. It stars Hannah Joy, Steve Le Marquand, and Darren Gilshenan.

Premise

Three recovering addicts try to get through the festive season without relapsing, in Campbelltown, a suburb in western Sydney, Australia.[1]

Cast

Production

An independent Australian film, Christmess is written and directed by Heath Davis.[2] Davis began writing an “authentic” Christmas film after Christmas 2020 when he spent time in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic without work or family, and watched a lot of “bad Christmas films”.[3]

It is produced by Daniel Fenech, Cindy Pritchard, and Matthew McCracken. Funding for the film partially came from crowd-funding.[4]

Casting

The film marks the feature film acting debut of Hannah Joy, the lead singer with rock band Middle Kids. Joy wrote several original songs for Christmess, including Empty Chair, Deadbeat Dads, and Boxing Day and performs all three songs in character during the film. [5]

Filming

Principal photography got underway in Sydney in June 2022 with a three-week filming schedule.[6]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival on 29 October 2023. It was released in Australia on 30 November 2023.[7] [8]

Reception

Nadine Whitney in The Curb described the film as "painful, hopeful, gentle, and funny as hell".[9]

Luke Buckmaster in The Guardian described it as "a very absorbing film, tenderly written and directed".[10]

Other films by Heath Davis

Heath Davis directed Book Week, released in 2018. This film was nominated for the AACTA Award for Best Indie Film in the 9th AACTA Awards in 2019.[11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: This Australian festive film starring the lead singer of Middle Kids is for people who find Christmas hard. ABC.net. 13 December 2023. Katherine. Smyrk. 9 December 2023.
  2. Web site: Christmess is undoubtedly one of the best Christmas films to emerge – from anywhere – in recent years. The Conversation. 13 December 2023. November 29, 2023. Ari. Mattes.
  3. Web site: “Christmas Can Be Bleak”: Heath Davis On His New Movie ‘Christmess’. Junkee. 13 December 2023. David James. Young. 12 December 2023.
  4. Web site: Watch the Trailer for Australian Festive Film ‘Christmess’. Variety. 4 October 2023. 13 December 2023.
  5. Web site: Rolling Stone. Middle Kids’ Hannah Joy Makes Her Big Screen Debut in Festive Film. Conor. Lochrie. 13 December 2023. 4 October 2023.
  6. Web site: Alcoholic ‘Christmess’ Film From Heath Davis Shooting in Sydney. Variety. 13 December 2023. June 2, 2022. Patrick. Frater.
  7. Web site: Heath Davis’ ‘Christmess’ to premiere at Austin Film Festival. If.com. 13 December 2023. Sean. Slatter. September 21, 2023.
  8. Web site: Schedule. Austin Film Festival. 13 December 2023.
  9. Web site: Nadine . Whitney . The Curb. Heath Davis’ Christmess is the Major Miracle Independent Australian Cinema Needs. 7 December 2023. 13 December 2023.
  10. Web site: The Guardian. 13 December 2023. Sweary Santas and barbecue explosions: what’s the best Australian Christmas movie?. 12 December 2023. Luke. Buckmaster.
  11. Web site: Winners & Nominees, 2019 . AACTA . 26 February 2024.
  12. Web site: AACTA Awards 2019: all the nominees and winners . Who . 4 Dec 2019 . 26 February 2024.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Christmess".

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