As the classic song, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother by The Hollies states: The road is long, with many a winding turn that leads us to who knows where.
In the film that borrows its title from the song, we meet Jade, who is strong, strong enough to carry Max. He is heavy, got heavy shit going on, and he’s her brother.
His welfare is of her concern, though he’s a burden to bear. He does encumber her, so she’ll incarcerate him. That is heavy, but she’s a strong sister, laden with sadness that everyone’s heart isn’t filled with the gladness of love for one another.
A firm contender for the best Australian feature of the year, HE AIN’T HEAVY follows 30-year-old Jade who embarks on an audacious and dangerous mission to rescue her little brother Max from drug addiction that has afflicted him and affected the cool running of their family.
After a shocking opening scene where Max unloads a vituperate, vicious, venomous and threatening tirade against their mother, Bev, Jade executes a tough love plan. In desperation, Jade locks Max inside the vacant rural home left by their grandparents in an attempt to “get him clean’.
The stage is set for a harrowing confrontation between siblings and between mother and daughter and the long arm of the law.
Real life daughter and mother Leila George and Greta Scacchi play Jade and Bev, and its a powerhouse dynamic. With the addition of Sam Corlett as Max, the pin is fully pulled from the dramatic grenade and BOOM!.
HE AIN’T HEAVY marks the feature film directorial debut of award-winning Western Australian writer/director David Vincent Smith and is an extension of his proof of concept short I’m Not Hurting You which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival a wee while ago.
HE AIN’T HEAVY is heavy but thanks to a savvy script, tight direction, and a trio of tyro performances, the film delivers a tough love screen experience brimming with hope and an underlying humanity.
HE AIN’T HEAVY is not overlong but it does have many a winding turn. Well worth the lift.
