Film: Men’s Group

Film: Men’s Group

27 May 2009

Producer John Simpson developed a temporary socialist co-operative to make this movie and no-one got paid. You could call it a mission.

Largely based on improvisation with some direction, the actors never saw the script and were encouraged to blur the lines between role and self. As the drama unfolds they hear the other ‘men’ disclosing their feelings for the first time on screen, so the line between drama and documentary becomes somewhat fudgy.

Simpson mortgaged his home to make his previous film Jammed. Exploring human trafficking in Australasia, it was taken into churches and eventually screened to the U.N. This time they’re taking Men’s Group to prisons.

Watching this movie, I laughed and cried along with the other members of my faith community. Of course, I’m somewhat biased – a Celtic, sanguine, thirty-something social worker. But if this movie doesn’t affect you deeply, I’d be worried.

WORDS: ALISTAIR BROWN