Australian actress-turned-helmer Elise McCredie's debut, "Strange Fits of Passion," is an exceedingly small, pedestrian affair about a young Melbournite's mission to define her sexuality and bid farewell to her virginity. Technically raw, and amusing only in hit-and-miss fashion, the no-budget independent production recalls too many other entries about erudite young adults wrestling with questions of love and sex.
Australian actress-turned-helmer Elise McCredie’s debut, “Strange Fits of Passion,” is an exceedingly small, pedestrian affair about a young Melbournite’s mission to define her sexuality and bid farewell to her virginity. Technically raw, and amusing only in hit-and-miss fashion, the no-budget independent production recalls too many other entries about erudite young adults wrestling with questions of love and sex. While the comedy-drama may raise a smile from college-age auds, its commercial future looks marginal.
Central character is an unnamed woman of about 20 (Michela Noonan) who’s convinced she has bungled her one chance at happiness when she lets attractive stranger Francis (Jack Finsterer) slip through her fingers. Obsessed with romantic poetry but highly skeptical of love and courtship, she begins a desperate search for Francis in the hope he will relieve her of virginity’s burden.
During her quest, she considers the available alternatives. These include Spanish teacher and faux Latin lover Pablo (Steve Adams), committed charity worker Judy (Anni Finsterer) and theorizing post-modern poet Josh (Samuel Johnson), whom she eventually drags into bed in a deflating encounter. In between these misadventures, she turns for comfort, guidance and affection to her gay housemate, Jimmy (Mitchell Butel). His own seemingly flourishing relationship gives him a much healthier outlook until the discovery of his lover’s infidelity, which brings tragic results.
McCredie’s script explores ideas of sexual fluidity through both the protagonist’s fleeting suspicion that her man troubles may be due to her own homosexuality as well as the confused feelings of mutual desire that creep into her rapport with Jimmy. But despite some effective moments in the more dramatic final reels, the visually flat film’s concerns seem trite and inconsequential, and its charms too ephemeral to make it more than mildly diverting.
Performances are adequate, but given the director’s acting background, one would expect a generally higher energy level. Newcomer Noonan brings a fitting balance of intelligence and fragility to the lead role, but the character’s not credibly virginal given her age, environment and experience.
Strange Fits of Passion
Australian
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