Director
Dean Francis
Year
Run Time
93
min
Country
Australia
Language
English
PROGRAM Time
minutes
CONTENT WARNING:
A surf lifesaving champion struggles with jealousy and his own identity, leading to violent confrontations and a personal reckoning.
This film is presented in English with English subtitles.
Based on the acclaimed play, Drown is a hard-hitting drama set against the iconic backdrop of Sydney’s Beaches. Len is a Surf Lifesaving champion, a legend in the cloistered surf club just like his father. But when the younger, faster, fitter Phil arrives at the club, Len’s legendary status starts to crumble. Then Len discovers that Phil is gay. Over the summer season, Len starts to form unexpected, confusing feelings for Phil. It’s something Len can’t accept and after the annual awards dinner, Len explodes. He finds Phil in the clubhouse locker room and violently attacks him. But to Len’s surprise, Phil remains loyal to the mateship pack and refuses to rat on Len about the beating. Len stays in the Club and is free to compete in the annual Surf Lifesaving completion; a competition Len has won five times but Phil wins and Len’s defeat is final. Arriving back at the beach where Phil claimed his victory the day before, Len sets upon Phil. And in a series of humiliating acts, Len finally comes face to face with a fundamental question, can he accept the truth about his sexuality and identity or will he succumb to complete oblivion?
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