1. Introduction
Release date
2001
Lantana is an Australian film that was released in 2001 and directed by Ray Lawrence. It is based on Andrew Bovell’s play Speaking In Tongues. The movie is set in a suburban area of Sydney and portrays the lives of nine different characters focusing especially on their relationships and their individual struggle with emotions. The name Lantana means the plant Lantana, a very thick and tangled shrub. The title can be interpreted as a metaphor for the tangled, intertwined relationships that are presented in the film.
Lantana was the first movie that won all of the top six categories of the Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards: best picture, best director, best actress, best actor, best supporting actress, best supporting actor.1
1.1 Plot summary
Lantana tells the story of eight couples who are joined through sex, betrayal and death. The four marriages are between Leon and Sonja, Jane and Pete, Nik and Paula, and Valerie and John.
The central event in Lantana is the mysterious death of psychiatrist Dr. Valerie Sommers, her body is found in a remote forrest near a quiet back road. Detective Leon Zat is called to solve the case and during his investigations he discovers that his wife Sonja was one of Valerie’s clients because of their unfulfilling marriage. Leon suspects Valerie’s husband John Knox, who claims he wasn’t at home when his wife desperatley called him from a phone box, saying her car broke down, to be involved in his wife’s death. Leon finds out that John and Valerie had their own difficulties with their relationship based on the murder of their daughter Eleanor and Valerie’s suspicion of John having an affair with her latest client, Patrick.
Leon’s investigations lead to an awkward situation with Jane O'May, a woman he has a short-term affair with. She finds a crucial clue, one of Valerie’s shoes, in the shrubs of her neighbour Nik, a seemingly loving father and husband.
It turns out that Valerie had an accident and Nik picked her up intending to drive her home. But when Nik spontaneously took a shortcut Valerie paniced an jumped out of the car. Nik didn’t mean to scare her so he just left her there in the forrest but later he found her shoe in his car.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 Overview
- 1.2 Plot summary
- 2. The characters of Lantana
- 2.1 The characters and their little secrets
- 2.2 The troubled marriages in Lantana
- 3. Lantana the movie
- 3.1 The main aspects of Lantana
- 3.2 How does Lantana work as a movie?
- 3.3 Winners and losers in the game of love
- 3.4 Comment
Objectives and Key Themes
This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the Australian film "Lantana," exploring its plot, characters, and thematic concerns. The analysis will delve into the intricate relationships depicted, examining how the film functions as a cinematic work and exploring its portrayal of love, marriage, and emotional repression within a specific Australian social context.
- Intertwined Relationships and their complexities
- The exploration of emotional repression and its consequences
- The portrayal of troubled marriages and infidelity
- The use of symbolism and metaphor in the film's narrative
- The film's success in portraying Australian identity and societal norms
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter provides background information on the film "Lantana," including its director (Ray Lawrence), cast, and release date. It sets the stage by establishing the film's setting in suburban Sydney and briefly introducing the central theme of entangled relationships amongst nine characters, using the symbolism of the Lantana plant as a metaphor for these complex connections. The chapter also highlights the film's critical acclaim, mentioning its sweep of the Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards. Finally, a concise plot summary is offered, introducing the mystery surrounding the death of Dr. Valerie Sommers and the ensuing investigations.
2. The characters of Lantana: This chapter delves into the personalities and inner lives of the characters. It focuses on Detective Leon Zat, portraying him as a stereotypical Australian male grappling with a midlife crisis and emotional repression, which manifests in his professional life and strained marriage. The chapter then profiles Sonja Zat, Leon's wife, highlighting her feelings of loneliness and lack of emotional fulfillment in their marriage, leading her to seek therapy. The section sets the stage for understanding the characters’ motivations and conflicts, which drive the plot.
Keywords
Australian cinema, emotional repression, marital relationships, infidelity, midlife crisis, mystery, tangled relationships, symbolism, Australian identity, Ray Lawrence.
Lantana Film Review: Frequently Asked Questions
What is this document?
This document is a comprehensive language preview of a film review for the Australian movie "Lantana." It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The information is presented in a structured format suitable for academic analysis.
What are the main themes explored in the Lantana film review?
The review explores several key themes, including intertwined relationships and their complexities, emotional repression and its consequences, troubled marriages and infidelity, the use of symbolism and metaphor in the narrative, and the portrayal of Australian identity and societal norms within a specific Australian social context.
What is the plot summary of Lantana?
The plot centers around a mystery surrounding the death of Dr. Valerie Sommers and the ensuing investigations. The story unfolds through the intertwined relationships of nine characters, highlighting the complexities of their lives and the impact of their actions on one another. The film uses the symbolism of the Lantana plant to represent these tangled connections.
Who are the main characters in Lantana, and what are their defining characteristics?
The review focuses on Detective Leon Zat, a stereotypical Australian male facing a midlife crisis and emotional repression affecting his professional life and marriage. His wife, Sonja Zat, is portrayed as feeling lonely and unfulfilled in their marriage, leading her to seek therapy. The review also briefly introduces other characters whose complexities are central to the story.
What is the significance of the Lantana plant as a symbol in the film?
The Lantana plant serves as a recurring metaphor for the intertwined and complex relationships amongst the nine main characters. The plant's numerous and connected blossoms symbolize the tangled nature of the characters' emotional entanglements.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the preview?
The preview offers chapter summaries for an introduction (providing background on the film, setting, and central theme), a chapter on the film's characters (delving into their personalities and inner lives), and additional chapters that likely focus on the film's cinematic aspects, critical reception and analysis.
What is the overall objective of this film review?
The review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the Australian film "Lantana," exploring its plot, characters, and thematic concerns. The analysis delves into the intricate relationships, examines the film's cinematic function, and explores its portrayal of love, marriage, and emotional repression within a specific Australian social context.
What keywords are associated with this film review?
The keywords include: Australian cinema, emotional repression, marital relationships, infidelity, midlife crisis, mystery, tangled relationships, symbolism, Australian identity, and Ray Lawrence (the director).
What is the significance of the film's setting in suburban Sydney?
The setting in suburban Sydney is crucial to the film's portrayal of Australian identity and societal norms. The suburban environment serves as the backdrop for the unfolding drama and influences the characters' interactions and behaviours. More details would be provided in a full review.
- Quote paper
- Florian Rübener (Author), 2006, Review of the movie "Lantana", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/163922
