One of the most loved performers in Australia is John Farnham. He’s been around for decades and decades (yes, I remember watching him sing ‘Sadie the Cleaning Lady’ on Saturday morning television). Now I just love watching reaction videos where overseas commentators come across him for the first time, especially with his rendition of ‘Help’ as the finale encore of one of his generously long concerts.
This movie is a celebration of his music, performed with the knowledge that he is gravely ill with cancer. It is beautifully staged, and as with the National Theatre film productions, you get a better view than you would have had you been there- especially if you had selfish idiots standing up in front of you as some people did- I really don’t understand why people think that their ‘right’ to sway to the music in an aisle trumps the rights of everyone behind them to see.
But that’s a sour note, and I don’t want any sour notes here. I knew every song, and I knew nearly every performer, (they very helpfully provided the names for those of us thinking “Now who’s that again?”). Sitting there grinning like a fool and enjoying it, now and then I’d feel a wave of sadness sweeping over me that we’ll never again see him perform in person. This concert captured the Australia we used to be, before everything turned aggressive and vicious. I loved it. I think that it will be on television at the end of the year, but go to see it at the cinema with the bigger screen and sound system.
My rating: 5 stars.
