Cosi

Cosi 

Directed by Mark Joffel

I am not sure if I am bias because I love this story as the  stage play, written by Louis Nowra but Cosi makes me laugh out loud which rarely happens in film. Although the film doesn’t always seem to hold the magic of when you see it performed live on stage, the acting of this particular ensemble is a priceless combination.

Cosi follows Louis, a playwright into a new job in the local  mental asylum. He is employed to put on a play with the inmates to keep them engaged. He attempts to try and put on a talent show but is overrun by the hilarious Roy who is determined that they will perform Mozart’s Opera “Cosi Fan Tutte”. By the time of the performance Louis realises the charm of each of the inmates he has been working with.

I think this film really hits a chord of Australian humour by the relationships shown between each of the characters. The amazing casting of Barry Otto as the mad Roy, Jacki Weaver as the flamboyant and love struck Cherry and David Wenham as the wild pyromaniac Doug. Still, each character has their own place in the ensemble and the overall story.

                                                                 

I could see that it might not hit such a strong chord overseas but it definitely hits a chord with the Australian humour. I think this comes with the mundane and hilarious situations the characters get themselves in. Although the humour is slightly violent at tomes (when Doug tells the story about setting his mothers cats alight.) It can also be a little crude; I think that comes with Australian humour itself.

In terms of production quality it is not amazing. The film is obviously held back by its low budget thus it has a slight amateur feel to it having been made in 1996. However, it is the performance we wait for and generously receive

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This film rekindles and realigns what Australian’s see as comedy. It is a different humour than any other.