Dalkeith (2001)
When it comes to charming films that give you a warm and fuzzy feeling Dalkeith delivers aplenty.
21 October 2002
This fabulous Australian film, currently showing at Te Awamutu's Regent cinema, tells the true story of how the residents at Dalkeith Residential Home sit around every day just waiting to die until staff buy them a greyhound. Naming the dog Dalkeith after the home, they discover she is a phenomenal runner and she is soon entered into the greyhound races. Soon residents are betting on the outcome of the races, and they are given a new reason to live. But the board of trustees learn what is going on, through the disgruntled daughter of one of the residents, and heavily handedly put an end to the fun and games. After the board's intervention the residents sink into a new form of despair as life becomes even duller and more boring than before. That is until the aloof pensioner, played by Australian legend and AFI award winner Ray Barrett, reveals he was once a high profile barrister and challenges the decision in court. One of the delights of the movie is the love/hate relationship that develops between Barrett's intellectual character and Gus Mercurio's less complicated character. Rather reminiscent of the relationship enjoyed by Mr Spock and Dr McCoy in the classic Star Trek television show. There is only one thing to complain about with the film and that is that at 90 minutes long it finishes all too soon. The film also stars Alan Hopgood, Esme Melville, Judy Banks and Marilyn Maguire.
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