To Market, To Market

To Market To Market is the story of a man's emotional journey to freedom.

The film is divided into two parts. The first, set in Melbourne in 1965, concerns 13 year-old Edward. Young Edward (Marcus Gollings) is an impressionable lad who is used by friends and family. He yearns to be close to his mother. His father is a stern disciplinarian who insists that Edward works on learning his scriptures.

While attending a prim and proper boarding school, he loses his best friend when the young Asian hangs himself after repeated racial slurs and taunts from cruel classmates. Nothing it seems can save Edward from paternal disdain, or from the sinister games his siblings play.

The story then jumps 22 years to 1987, Edward (Philip Quast) has become a very successful lawyer in his father's firm, but he has been unable to grow closer to either parent. He has a girlfriend, Jackie, and he has become close to her daughter. Jackie is furious with him for trying to please his family all the time and tells him so. She also tells him, they will never thank him. His sister and brother still tolerate Edward only in so far as they can use him. They have both got financial troubles, especially William who has a gambling problem. They see their way out by forcing Edward into making an illegal cash transfer to Hong Kong, which results in a police investigation.

Edward's parents and siblings have a meeting in the family home. His parents believe his brother William and sister, Suzanna, when they tell them it was all Edward's fault. The family plans to tell Edward he must leave his present job, but they will find him something in the firm. Taking one last calm look around at the family home before he opens the door and joins the rest in the meeting, we observe along with Edward, the inhospitable, barren place, lacking in any human affection he had called home. We also hear the ghost of family comments that have affected him through his life.

To the families astonishment Edward beats them to the punch by resigning, not only from the firm but the family as well. He also hints to William and Suzanna that they still might have some problems with the police as they are more interested in investigating the drug trafficking than the illegal cash transfer.

Producer/Director: Virginia Rouse

Cast:

Philip Quast - Edward
Richard Tony - Llewellyn-Jones
Marcus Gollings - Young Edward
William - Wayne Cull
Genevieve Picot - Suzanna
Noel Travarthen - William Senior
Kate Reid - Jackie
Maureen Edwards - Valerie
Paul Cox - Mortician

A Review of To Market, To Market

To Market To Market is the story of a man`s journey to freedom from the family he has fought so hard to be part of, but who in return have shown him no love or acceptance. The film is a dark and chilling view of family life. It takes a simple but disturbing look at the subtle mind games some family members use to manipulate and destroy other members of the family.

You know this film is going to be somewhat disturbing by the opening scene: a crying baby suspended over a table by someone in shadow. By the final scene, which is a puppet child climbing a ladder, before floating in space, free, you have been taken on a disconcerting trip. You have watched a boy grow up into a man through a torrent of emotional depredation.

It is only Edward (Philip Quast) who appeals to our compassion, his friend Richard (Tony Llewellyn-Jones) who stands by him and Jackie (Kate Reid) who remain the likable characters throughout the film. Edward's father and brother come through as antagonistic and resentful. His sister and mother are horrendous, coming across as callous and frustrated throughout the film.

This is a film well worth watching. The lighting in this movie is superb and not only catches the mood but adds to it. The script is full of ideas and originality. It has a significant and daring viewpoint. And the acting is wonderful.