“A close friend committed suicide in late 2003, and left me a video suicide note. It was something that affected me immensely to the point where, over months, and coupled with my own personal problems, I was driven to depression and ultimately to an attempt on my own life, “ says 21-year-old director Murali K. Thalluri.

In making his debut film 2:37, Thalluri has exorcised his own demons and paid tribute to his late friend. While there are a number of films that have examined the lives of young teens, this is possibly the first feature film to have been created by one of them. But being young does not prevent Thalluri from delivering a powerful and poignant film. On the contrary, this complex movie dwells on some of the most sensitive and serious issues affecting students who are on the verge of becoming adults.

Weaving together a multi-layered plot, 2:37 studies the effects of violence, drug abuse, homosexuality, incest and bullying on the lives of six students in a school in Adelaide, Australia.

The film opens with a student knocking desperately on the school’s bathroom door. She is joined by one of the teachers, who begins to shout and orders the janitor to open it. But to their shock and horror, blood begins to seep across the floof. So begins 2:37, and in the next scenes we meet six students as they tell their stories, flashback to what happened before and see how someone’s suicide touches their lives in both unexpected and shocking ways.

The school’s bathroom is an important focal point, where we see the students at their most vulnerable. Melody (played by the talented Theresa Palmer) has just discovered that she’s pregnant. Sarah (Marni Spilane) sees her and assumes it’s her own boyfriend who did it. Angry, insecure and desperate, Sarah begins accusing Melody of being a slut, spreading the news and spitting on her. Her words are like a knife that cuts into the most sensitive parts, leaving one exposed to prejudice and cruelty, but instead of fighting back, Melody keeps her silence.

Another student, Sean (played with shimmering intensity by Joel Mackenzie) takes drugs to dull the pain of being an outcast. He used to be an athlete, belonging to a bunch of boys that girls constantly pursued, but now he is a pariah, taunted by the same guys he used to hang out with. “I like cock….no I love cock!” he says. One of the guys who bullies him is a friend, Luke (played by the cool and sexy Sam Harris). Luke also rejected his attempts to communicate, but that is about to change…

Then there is Uneven Steven (played with such humility by Charles Baird) who still wets his pants. He’s from the UK and the abrupt change of school has pushed him deeper into despair and alienation. He dreams of being a college jock, of having people line up for attention from him, but in reality no one seems to like him. There is one girl, Kelly, who shows him some concern. Played by Clementine Mellor, Kelly is just like Steven, always alone, always trying to fit in…

Finally, Melody’s younger brother and tormentor, Marcus (played by the group's most highly-touted actor, Frank Sweet) is the over-achiever of the group. One need not look closely to observe the tension between siblings, to know there is a deep and ugly secret that they share. No one can get past their exteriors, as they live in a world where only tortured souls reside.

Who among them lies dead in the bathroom? The answer will surprise you….

Thalluri’s first feature film has a powerful message. Despite being so young and having so little experience in filmmaking, he has been able to create a film worthy of recognition.

[ Official website ] [ Interview with director Murali K. Thalluri ]

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Comments (3)

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I visited the official website and saw that this film premiered at Cannes in May this year, where it was an Official Selection. This young director is just amazing! And the trailer is gripping and intriguing...

LA Bennett , July 18, 2007

Compelling!

I really enjoyed this movie very much. It's one of those films that kept you thinking after you've seen it. Until today, I can still recall some of the scenes. Theresa Palmer is particularly an outstanding actress and all the buzz about her is rightly so. She's amazing in her role as Melody.

The best actor of the group is a bit difficult to say, both Joel Mackenzie and Charles Baird were good.

Its highly recommended, and the director is only 21 years old when he did this film!

Admin , July 18, 2007

Thalluri\'s sense of direction!

I stand corrected, he's only 19! :zzz

The interview of the director was very good, I like the way he answered the questions, in particular, he was asked about another film Van Sant's Elephant and if his film is somehow based on this movie, says Thalluri:

Gus was a huge influence, but I think in comparing "2:37" to "Elephant" it's much like comparing "Brokeback Mountain" to a cowboy movie. It's similar in form, but the stories are completely different. My proudest moment was when Gus saw the film and called me up, and he said "Oh God, I loved your movie, it reminded me of 'Elephant' but it's got a story". "Elephant Man" is one of my favourite films ever; that's the first film I sat in my room alone and cried my heart out. I'd never cried in a movie before then. I love Scott Hicks, I think he's got a real hold on his craft. Rolf de Heer helped me a lot, I was friends with his daughter, so he made sure I was moving in the right direction. I'm obsessed with Michael Jackson. One of my goals in life is to do one of his film clips. And Woody Allen - my third film's going to be very Woody Allen-ish.

Admin , July 18, 2007

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