The Erskineville Kings

Two brothers find themselves confronting themselves and each other after their father dies. That the local pub or "shit hole" as they call it ("But it's our shit hole"), is the arena chosen for the battle will strike a chord for many, even if pubs aren't your scene.

Writer and star Marty Denniss (from Wildside) has, along with director Alan White, persuasively created strongly delineated characters. But these are Australian males. They don't say much.

The beauty of this film is the space allowed for them and us to work out how they feel.

This is accentuated by the deserted, run down, sun drenched, heat soaked, urban landscape within which the brothers work out their tensions.

This really does look and feel like a stylised inner Sydney on a hot Sunday afternoon.

Barky's (Denniss) fecklessness and defense of his Mother, who left the family years before, contrasts mightily with Wace's (Hugh Jackman's) tough "I get things done" demeanour.

Their friends vacillate between horseplay and protectiveness. They all gain dignity as the drama develops. This isn't achieved without humour, although moralists will no doubt take issue with the lifestyle depicted.

But it would take a hard nut indeed to not gain some compassion for these young men, not to mention Barky's girlfriend Lanny played by Marin Mimica.

The script sometimes has a stage play feel about it, but only then does it become a little awkward. Erskineville Kings has a lazy, unemployed feel about it that accentuates the tensions held not far below.

But consider how the film might have developed it the father had instead committed suicide?