Nitram

Nitram
Promotional release poster
Directed by	Justin Kurzel
Written by	Shaun Grant
Produced by	Nick Batzias Virginia Whitwell Justin Kurzel Shaun Grant
Starring	Caleb Landry Jones Judy Davis Essie Davis Anthony LaPaglia
Cinematography	Germain McMicking
Edited by	Nick Fenton
Music by	Jed Kurzel
Production companies	Stan Good Thing Productions Wild Bunch International Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund
Distributed by	Madman Films
Release dates	16 July 2021 (2021-07-16) (Cannes) 30 September 2021 (2021-09-30) (Australia)
Running time	112 minutes[1]
Country	Australia
Language	English
Box office	$344,826[2]

Nitram is a 2021 Australian biographical psychological drama film directed by Justin Kurzel from a screenplay by Shaun Grant.^[3] The film revolves around the life and behaviors of a disturbed young man called "Nitram" (based on Martin Bryant), and the events leading to his involvement in the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, Australia. The film stars Caleb Landry Jones, Judy Davis, Essie Davis and Anthony LaPaglia.^[4][5]

Nitram premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival on 16 July 2021, where Jones won the Best Actor award for his performance. The film received a limited theatrical release in Australia on 30 September 2021, before a digital release on the Australian streaming service Stan on 24 November 2021. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised Kurzel's direction and the cast's performances, although the film was still met with controversy in Tasmania. The film later received eight awards at the 2021 AACTA Awards, including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

Plot[]

Nitram, an intellectually disabled young man, lives with his parents in Port Arthur, Australia. He regularly sets off fireworks outdoors, upsetting the family's neighbours, and sells firecrackers to local schoolchildren. His father has recently been approved for a loan, with which he hopes to buy a bed and breakfast that Nitram will help run. Nitram wants to buy a surfboard after seeing an attractive woman with a surfer, but his exasperated mother refuses to buy one for him.

Nitram tries mowing local lawns to make money. In the process, he meets a neighbour named Helen, a former actress and wealthy heiress, who offers him money to walk her many dogs. The two quickly become friends, with Helen buying him a car, although Nitram does not have a license and exhibits a habit of lunging for the steering wheel when the two are driving. Nitram becomes increasingly frustrated with life at home, and tells his parents he is leaving to move in with Helen who permits him to stay in one of her spare rooms, but insists that he get rid of his air rifle as she is upset by the gun's presence. At his next birthday, Nitram introduces Helen to his parents; his mother tells Helen an anecdote from when Nitram was young, where he took pleasure in the pain he caused her after pretending to be lost.

Despite having the funds for the bed and breakfast, Nitram's father is denied the purchase due to another couple making a higher offer, and becomes despondent as a result. Nitram asks Helen if the two can visit Los Angeles, but on the drive to the airport he once again lunges for the steering wheel, resulting in a crash that kills Helen. Nitram lies to the police claiming he was asleep at the time of the crash.

Nitram, having inherited Helen's house and over half a million dollars from her, begins to drink regularly. His mother asks him to help his father, who is extremely depressed. Nitram attempts to buy the bed and breakfast with Helen's money but the couple refuse. Several days later, his father's body is found in a nearby river after an apparent suicide. Nitram's mother refuses to let him attend the funeral because of her fear he will embarrass her. The increasingly isolated Nitram begins to take holidays by himself and practices shooting with his air rifle.

While watching the news one night, Nitram sees a report about the Dunblane massacre. He becomes obsessed with guns, purchasing an unlicensed Colt AR-15 and shotgun from a local gun shop, and ordering a handgun. One day, he drives to the café where Helen and his parents celebrated his birthday. After ordering food, he sets up a video camera, retrieves one of his rifles and opens fire. At her home, Nitram's mother smokes as the news report of the massacre plays in the background.

Cast[]

• Caleb Landry Jones as "Nitram" (based on Martin Bryant; "Nitram" is "Martin" backwards)^[6]
• Judy Davis as Nitram's mother (based on Carleen Bryant)^[7]
• Essie Davis as Helen (based on Helen Mary Elizabeth Harvey)
• Anthony LaPaglia as Nitram’s father (based on Maurice Bryant)
• Sean Keenan as Jamie
• Rick James as the gun shop owner

Production[]

On 17 November 2020, it was announced that Justin Kurzel would direct a film focused on the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, Australia, starring Caleb Landry Jones, Judy Davis, Essie Davis and Anthony LaPaglia.^[8][9] Principal photography of the film began on 23 January 2021 and concluded on 13 March 2021 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.^[10]

Release[]

The film had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on 16 July 2021.^[11] It was scheduled to screen in mid-August at the later-cancelled Melbourne International Film Festival^[12] and later screened at CinefestOZ in Western Australia in late August 2021.^[13]

It received a limited theatrical release in Australia by Madman Films on 30 September 2021.^[14] It was later released digitally on the Australian streaming service Stan on 24 November 2021.^[15][16]

Reception[]

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Nitram holds a 89% approval rating based on 35 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10.^[17] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 82 out of 100 based on reviews from 11 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".^[18]

Reception in Tasmania[]

The film was met by widespread controversy within Tasmania itself. Kelly Spaulding, Mayor of the Tasman Council, which includes Port Arthur, condemned the choice to make the film. The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, established by the father of two young girls killed in the Port Arthur shooting, released a statement also condemning the choice to produce the film. The Police Association of Tasmania, the union for Tasmania Police, indicated it was worried how members of the union's mental health would be impacted.^[19] The Star Theatre, Launceston and the State Cinema, Hobart were the only cinemas in Tasmania to show the film. However, the State Cinema chose not to advertise the screenings.^[20]

The production company invited Arts Minister Elise Archer to meet, but were declined. Screen Tasmania declined to fund the film. Premier of Tasmania Peter Gutwein stated to the House of Assembly that it made him uncomfortable. Other state politicians including Brian Mitchell, federal member for Lyons, and Rebecca White, Leader of the Opposition, expressed concern.^[21]

Accolades[]

References[]

External links[]

• Nitram page on Madman Films website
• Nitram at IMDb
• Nitram at AllMovie
• Nitram at Box Office Mojo
• Nitram at Rotten Tomatoes