Australian film Nitram cleaned up at the AACTA awards last night, winning a total eight awards across acting, directing, editing, and the coveted Best Film award.
The controversial film tells the story of notorious convicted murderer Martin Bryant in the lead up to the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania in 1996.
Essie Davis, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Helen in the film, chatted to WHO on the red carpet alongside the film’s director, Justin Kurzel.
“[It’s] so important, and I’m so honoured to be a part of it,” Essie said.
“I’m really honoured by the feedback that I’ve had from the audiences who’ve seen it, and the critics who’ve seen it, and I just hope that more and more people get to see it, and help make a change,” she added.
The film has been controversial since it’s inception, given that the Port Arthur shooting was one of Australia’s darkest days, resulting in the death of 35 people.
The film’s writer, Shaun Grant, admitted to Deadline that it took him a decade to figure out how to approach a depiction of such a human.
Mayor of the Tasman Council, Kelly Spaulding, condemned the creation of the film, as did The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, which was founded by the father of two young girls killed at Port Arthur.
Now, various parts of the state have opted not to play the film in cinemas.
The film’s purpose in part is to delve into Australia’s relationship with gun reform, which changed dramatically in the wake of Port Arthur, which has been addressed widely by director Justin Kerzel.
“I think there are going to be some that won’t want to watch Nitram, and that’s absolutely fine,” said Justin, who won Best Director last night.
“There’ll be others that will be curious about how an event like this happened and I guess what Australia’s relationship is with gun reform and sort of why we made it is to open a discussion and conversation about those ideas.”
Essie is also full of praise for the director.
“It’s been a long time since I was on a red carpet, but Justin did several red carpets at the Cannes Film Festival, for Nitram,” she said proudly.
“You know, [he] received a seven-minute standing ovation.”
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