DVD Reviews

Beautiful Kate – DVD Review

By Frankie Dees Jan 6, 2011, 2:25 GMT

After Ned returns home to say goodbye to his ailing father, disturbing memories surface of his twin sister Kate and the shocking events that led to her death. Based on the novel by Newton Thornburg. ...more

Beautiful Kate is a surprisingly moving slow-burn drama from Rachel Ward of ‘The Thornbirds’ fame. I was bracing myself for a plodding borefest, but found myself drawn into the lives of an estranged Australian family reunited and having to deal with some long-buried family secrets.

Adapted from the American novelist Newton Thornburg’s novel by Rachel Ward herself, the American locale gets moved from Illinois to the dusty, sparse but gorgeous landscape of the Australian outback - a perfect setting to harbor a few generations of familial guilt.

While this might all sound very familiar, the ‘ol' buried family tragedy reunion’, the amazing performances and deft direction really elevates the material.

After 20 years without a visit, now author Ned Kendall (Ben Mendelsohn) makes the long trip back to his family ranch to settle affairs and pay his belabored respects to his dying father Bruce (Bryan Brown) - a belligerent rancher type that believed in a tough love that could often be confused for just tough.

Not wanting to face his dad alone, Ned drags along his younger fiancée Toni (Maeve Dermody), a waitress wannabe actress who belongs in the outback about as much an umbrella.

So he arrives and greets his younger sister Sally (Rachel Griffiths) who basically sacrificed her life to be Bruce’s caretaker. Let the awkward family reunion begin.

Missing from the family picture is the mother who died when they were just kids and Ben’s twin sister Kate and his older brother Cliff who died during the same fateful accident 20 years ago that led to Ned’s self-exile.

And while Sally has forgiven Ned for leaving, Bruce still resents him and makes no effort to hide his feelings. But of course, Ned has his own resentments towards his bastard father and they both seem to be blaming each other for Kate and Cliff’s deaths. 

The story unfolds as Ned spends a few days on the farm and every room unleashes a flashback that slowly puts the pieces together of what led to the death of his sister and brother 20 years ago. And trust me, it’s not particularly easy to watch.

While the narrative surrounds a relatively taboo subject matter, it’s handled in a smart restrained manner that rests on performances rather than any sort exploitation or titillation.

Rachel Ward proves a very capable first-time director (feature-length, she’s made some shorts) that lets the great cast drive the film. I can’t say I’ve paid much attention to Ben Mendelsohn in the past who has popped up in films like ‘Australia’ and ‘Knowing,’ but he’s outstanding here in a tough role.

As is the perfectly cast Bryan Brown (Ward’s long-time husband) who has to act mostly from a wheelchair or bed. The supporting cast also brings it with Maeve Dermody, Rachel Griffiths and Sophie Lowe all adding depth to what could have been one-note roles.

By the end, this cast had me hook, line and sinker and the film mercifully allows a cathartic conclusion for all involved.

The film is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer with some ‘Deleted Scenes’ and ‘Cast & Crew Interviews’. Admittedly, this is not a film for everybody.

If a methodically-paced drama sounds off-putting then this may not be for you but I ultimately found this to be a moving, performance-led drama with a lot to offer for the patient viewer.

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