Review

Written by Edward King
Flinders University Bachelor of Creative Arts (Screen) Student

Jack Shepherd brings to the screen a short focusing on masculine violence in Yakka, following the teenage sons of a neglectful father as they try to catch a yellowtail kingfish. At its heart this short is about cycles of violence, first passed on from the father to the son, then the older son to the younger, and how these cycles can be broken. One of the most notable things about this film is the truly breathtaking cinematography which captures the natural beauty of northeastern Australia and places the audience squarely in that rural, northern setting. The characterisation of the boys is also wonderful, they feel like complex, real people by the end of the film which is due to a combination of both good writing and acting on the side of the kids. These elements come together to create a hopeful view of the future of violent cycles, that one day things may change, and the value of standing up for one’s own beliefs.