It starts with a close-up low to the ground, and it ends very high, like this film full of colour. It begins with a lovely dance move of Johnny Spit’s flip-flops, and it ends with hands in the air. These flip-flops, “single decked,” are one of the characters, almost like a motif in the film SPIT, produced by David Wenham, starring David Wenham, coloured by David Wenham. These are flip-flops to which you grow attached, and you almost regret them when David Wenham himself tosses them in the air in the final scene, a lovely symbol of liberation from the past condition. The one Johnny Spit inherited, which sticks to him – or to his feet, in this case. The flip-flops also serve as a way to keep a lightness and distance from a sad story of today – that of refugees trapped in precarious camps, with the sole hope of saving their lives by never returning to their country: Syria in the middle of civil war, etc.
And what about David Wenham? He’s perfect in his role as an impromptu English teacher, with a vocabulary based on f****. That’s what I liked most about this film: his sincerity, sometimes brutally blunt but true, and his unvarnished look at the reality of outsiders in a changing Australian society. Through the story of Spit, the film deals with founding themes of redemption, resilience, and the quest for a second (or even a seventh) chance in a world where the cards sometimes seem to be stacked against you.
In the end, SPIT is a tragicomic portrait of the “lucky country,” this country with gold in its hands but a society of its own: multicultural, imperfect, and sometimes cruel. SPIT continues to fight. With him, society’s outcasts rise from the ashes, regain their dignity, and find their place in a world where it has become too easy to become invisible.
David Wenham, known for his roles in cult films like The Lord of the Rings or Elvis, delivers a standout performance here. A tailor-made role that should earn him an Oscar, if only we weren’t in a cinema system based on ratings and Oscar-worthy films that are standardized to the extreme. I had the opportunity to meet the guy twice, and each time, he kindly agreed to talk to me. He listened to me, smiled at me, and said, “why not.” He radiates such warmth that you want to go have a drink with him, or even share a bad meal, just to focus fully on the quality of this exceptional human being.
The film is raw, and that’s what makes it strong. Far from the smooth and perfect Hollywood narratives, SPIT presents a world where the “losers” are the most worthy of interest. A world where those who weren’t born in the right families or neighbourhoods have something precious to offer. A wonderful world where wearing flip-flops allows you to live and survive. For better and for worse.
Olivier Vojetta
https://www.oliviervojetta.com/
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