re:mote voices

Title:The Rage In Placid Lake
Cast: Ben Lee, Rose Byrne, Miranda Richardson
Director: Tony McNamara

Placid Lake is the son of hippy parents, hence the name. The sort of parents who would challenge society’s preconceptions about sexuality by putting their son in a nice dress and sending him to school like that. Is it any wonder, from that basis, that Placid has spent every day of his school life being beaten up?

However Placid has grown up strong, if a little strange. The sort that is determined to stir things up, regardless of the consequences. Which is why he makes a revelatory film in his final year of school, one that shows everyone for what they really are. Great! Except that results in him being hospitalised with every bone in his body broken.

While he is recovering he realises what his life has been missing – discipline – if he got his life into a sensible daily regime then he would get on a lot better. So, much to his parent’s and best friend’s horror, he becomes an insurance sales man.

Ben Lee, the Australian indie rock star, plays the lead role of Placid Lake, a smart and knowing character. Bringing to the part a certain something, which is effective in bringing the smart mouthed and over the top character to life. His best friend is played by the well known Australian actress Rose Byrne, who has been in a number of Australian films like The Goddess of 1967, American films like Wicker Park, and even British television serials like the recent Casanova. While Placid’s mother is a dippy, self-involved hippy played by acclaimed British actress Miranda Richardson.

The film is written and directed by first time director Tony McNamara, who cut his teeth working on Australian TV drama The Secret Life Of Us – as did Cate Shortland, who was responsible for the film Somersault, which was another recent film from Australia to be seen in UK cinemas.