DEAD EUROPE

As expected, 'Dead Europe' is a handsomely made film, sitting comfortably next to the visual style of 'Animal Kingdom' (2010) and 'Snowtown' (2011). Krawitz finds himself shooting in some of the most beautiful cities in Europe, but you wouldn’t know it. He wisely chooses to explore the underbellies of these cities, the grime and dirt that we quickly begin to associate with Vassily’s secret. Visually, 'Dead Europe' is striking and distinct, and another example of the tremendous talent working in Australian film. The screenplay by Louise Fox is also of note, however this is where the film starts to unravel. At 84 minutes, the film feels criminally short, and without having read the book myself, there is definitely a sense that much of the narrative has either been cut, or there is detail that must not have been translatable to film. Early sections of Isaac’s trip to Greece seem to leave the central narrative behind, and instead the film pursues Isaac’s sexual and drug-induced experiences. The final act is easily the strongest, when his search for the truth about Vassily reaches its climax, but by that point the film has meandered and become so lost in aesthetic detail that you find yourself unaffected by the revelations. It’s a pity, as there is something sinister and uncomfortable about 'Dead Europe' that never seems to be explored as far as it could be.

The performances are generally top notch, though like the narrative, always prevented from really taking off. Ewen Leslie, one of our most acclaimed stage actors, does seem a little at sea on screen, but there is a comfortable intensity to him that makes him very watchable. Kodi Smit-McPhee is also very good, though again, isn’t given a lot to do. Marton Csokas is terrific as Isaac’s brother Nico, a repulsive individual steeped in drugs and pornography, crippled by the weight of his fathers crimes. Csokas is always arresting to watch, and this is another example of his considerable talent. Also of note is William Zappa as Vassily, who, even though only on screen for five minutes, leaves a lasting impression with a haunted and visceral performance.

Without having read the book, it’s hard to say whether 'Dead Europe' is an unsatisfactory adaptation of the novel, or the best attempt to film a book unsuitable for film. It looks handsome, and features some worthy performances, but it never goes far enough to be wholly satisfying. Isaac’s journey to reconcile the sins of his father is one we could have connected with, but unfortunately, that isn’t the case here. It isn’t the worst way to spend an hour and a half, but you might not walk out feeling particularly fulfilled.