2:37 succeeds admirably at showing us what Australian teenagers feel and don't say. These are the stories of real kids and I think we would be naive to think otherwise. The only new thing 2:37 really brings us is an Australian point of view. We often watch troubled American children but often fail to link the same problems to our own teens. Executed with clever and artful cinematography, I did however (upon immediate recognition of the disappointing final song) find the musical direction lacking in sophistication. I applaud the fabulous casting of this film. These are regular looking Aussie kids who invite plenty of sympathy because of this. Great performances all round and you can't top Gary Sweet, this film made me remember why sometimes high school sucked and unless you're squeamish, or you like to leave with warm and fuzzies, go and see 2:37.
79 Reviews
Question
ben_dalton7 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
All those that identify this as a simple rip-off of 'Elephant' - are there no other comments that you can make towards the movie on its own merits as an individual film (regardless of its apparent similarities to other movies).
All those that question the validity of the movie - in terms of its stereotypical characters (the obligatory gay, the jock, the disabled kid, etc) - I'm not sure how long it has been since you were at school - but regardless of how amateurish the acting may be - the happenings that go one are surprisingly close to what may actually happen.
And all those that disregard the film as being so simple: just six teenagers with the regular teenage angst that pushes one over the edge... did anyone stop to think, and take notice that the girl who took her life wasn't actually one of those six!! As one comment points out - she had screen time of maybe 2min max (excluding the final scenes). I think the point of the film is not only to make an issue of teenage angst, and how far it can take someone - but also that it is no apparently obvious who is always in danger of committing such an act (suicide)...
All those that question the validity of the movie - in terms of its stereotypical characters (the obligatory gay, the jock, the disabled kid, etc) - I'm not sure how long it has been since you were at school - but regardless of how amateurish the acting may be - the happenings that go one are surprisingly close to what may actually happen.
And all those that disregard the film as being so simple: just six teenagers with the regular teenage angst that pushes one over the edge... did anyone stop to think, and take notice that the girl who took her life wasn't actually one of those six!! As one comment points out - she had screen time of maybe 2min max (excluding the final scenes). I think the point of the film is not only to make an issue of teenage angst, and how far it can take someone - but also that it is no apparently obvious who is always in danger of committing such an act (suicide)...
despite some comments, this movie is innovating
joaosamarques25 October 2016
after watch more than 4000 movies, this one caught my attention.
after Reading the plot, i had a minimum of curiosity.
10 minutes after the beginning there was some movements from the movie, that caught my attention until the end. this is because i normally see only half of a movie, and than the other half the next day.
off course, along the movie you star wondering to whom is going to happen.
when the film is going towards the end, the twists begin.
that's when you pay even more attention, and watch an unpredictable end.
for me, the movie is wheel written, and very well shot.
good directing, good characters. the characters even show almost all type of students in high school.
8/10
after Reading the plot, i had a minimum of curiosity.
10 minutes after the beginning there was some movements from the movie, that caught my attention until the end. this is because i normally see only half of a movie, and than the other half the next day.
off course, along the movie you star wondering to whom is going to happen.
when the film is going towards the end, the twists begin.
that's when you pay even more attention, and watch an unpredictable end.
for me, the movie is wheel written, and very well shot.
good directing, good characters. the characters even show almost all type of students in high school.
8/10
It changed my perspective ...
ml_kitarist1 February 2007
This movie really touched me. Above being "the exact thing in teenagers generally troubled times" it goes one step beyond by showing detailed description of the characters in a rather pleasant and unexpected way. There is one part that I really liked about this movie. The mix of perspectives, that the unconventional characters show, is in my opinion the best segment in any teenage-related movie, I have ever seen. Makes me think back and realize that my teenage isn't as bright as expected of my common honesty, kindness, but seeing this movie made me realize a lot of other things, which would never occur to me, if I hadn't seen it. I recommend this movie to everyone, it really dazzled me, and sent my heart beat way up!I'm still shaking!
Well done
paulmartin-230 October 2006
This was quite an accomplishment by the young director. Being a big fan of Gus van Sant's Elephant, I found the derivation in this film a bit distracting. If you haven't seen Elephant, that won't bother you.
I found the interspersed black and white 'talking heads' interviews artificial and contrived and the film would have benefited if they had been edited out. The ending was more graphic (violent) than needed and the whodunit aspect was also a little unnecessary.
These criticisms aside, this was a remarkable effort by the young director and his credit at the end was very moving. The film was beautifully photographed, and the hand-held digital camera was used to great effect. The tree scenes were nicely done. The actors generally performed quite well. Though I like Gary Sweet, the film would have benefited by using an unknown, in keeping with the authentic look of the film.
Definitely better than average film, and the director has great potential.
I found the interspersed black and white 'talking heads' interviews artificial and contrived and the film would have benefited if they had been edited out. The ending was more graphic (violent) than needed and the whodunit aspect was also a little unnecessary.
These criticisms aside, this was a remarkable effort by the young director and his credit at the end was very moving. The film was beautifully photographed, and the hand-held digital camera was used to great effect. The tree scenes were nicely done. The actors generally performed quite well. Though I like Gary Sweet, the film would have benefited by using an unknown, in keeping with the authentic look of the film.
Definitely better than average film, and the director has great potential.
Hard to watch in places... but that makes it a very watchable movie!
coneybear18 July 2007
There is some very heavy subject matter in this movie but I think it is used to make a broad statement that will be useful and relevant to a wide audience. That statement being that emotions and human behavior are not always what you expect they will be.
It was pretty hard to watch at times because of the "in your face" nature of some scenes such as incest, masturbation, suicide, gay kissing, bullying, etc but if you are in a "serious movie" mood then it is well worth a watch.
Some of the acting wasn't quite perfect but you will always get that with the young actors required for college based movies, and all in all the acting was of a decent standard.
I think the final scene needn't have been so long and so graphic but that is only a small gripe, and people less marshmallow than myself may not agree!
The style and content of the movie reminded me a lot of the 2003 film 'Elephant'.
It was pretty hard to watch at times because of the "in your face" nature of some scenes such as incest, masturbation, suicide, gay kissing, bullying, etc but if you are in a "serious movie" mood then it is well worth a watch.
Some of the acting wasn't quite perfect but you will always get that with the young actors required for college based movies, and all in all the acting was of a decent standard.
I think the final scene needn't have been so long and so graphic but that is only a small gripe, and people less marshmallow than myself may not agree!
The style and content of the movie reminded me a lot of the 2003 film 'Elephant'.
Moving/Heartbreaking/Honest Film
movieman212126 June 2006
I think this film has to be one of the most moving, and heartbreaking films of recent times.
The film basically starts off with a suicide in a school toilet. U don't see who it is, then from there it goes to the beginning of the day, and we get to know 6 characters, and they are going through some pretty heavy things, anyway eventually one of them will commit suicide.
I've been teaching Physical Education in schools for 8 years now, and never in a film have I seen such an accurate portrayal of what 'really' goes on in school life.
The film is shot beautifully, and sounds incredible.
The ending is so shocking, and so what one would not expect, it is something that will haunt me for days to come.
This is Definitely one to watch.
I think the fact that the Director/Writer was in school only a few years ago is a major contributing factor to the raw honesty expressed in the film.
The film is shot in two separate 'modes' if you will. Firstly there is the smooth observation style where we get to know the characters in their school environment as they go through their drama, but the stunning part of the film is in the interview sections, where we get to know the characters back stories, and their deepest, darkest thoughts.
You keep wondering, who is it going to be (who commits suicide) and as the drama unfolds you keep changing your mind, until bam, it hits you in the face in the final five minutes. I am all over the place in my writing, but I've just seen it at a Media screening in Australia, and I am still in a bit of shock.
It's one of the best Australian Films I have seen in recent years.
The film basically starts off with a suicide in a school toilet. U don't see who it is, then from there it goes to the beginning of the day, and we get to know 6 characters, and they are going through some pretty heavy things, anyway eventually one of them will commit suicide.
I've been teaching Physical Education in schools for 8 years now, and never in a film have I seen such an accurate portrayal of what 'really' goes on in school life.
The film is shot beautifully, and sounds incredible.
The ending is so shocking, and so what one would not expect, it is something that will haunt me for days to come.
This is Definitely one to watch.
I think the fact that the Director/Writer was in school only a few years ago is a major contributing factor to the raw honesty expressed in the film.
The film is shot in two separate 'modes' if you will. Firstly there is the smooth observation style where we get to know the characters in their school environment as they go through their drama, but the stunning part of the film is in the interview sections, where we get to know the characters back stories, and their deepest, darkest thoughts.
You keep wondering, who is it going to be (who commits suicide) and as the drama unfolds you keep changing your mind, until bam, it hits you in the face in the final five minutes. I am all over the place in my writing, but I've just seen it at a Media screening in Australia, and I am still in a bit of shock.
It's one of the best Australian Films I have seen in recent years.
impressive story
candan-artut25 December 2011
I think 2:37 certainly should be seen by parents and teachers. Because nobody knows that what happen of teenagers' life and about their worlds. And , I think so many parents do not want to understand them and parents have never thought that teenagers have problems. That idea can not be accepted. Actually, they fight with themselves as in this movie. There are six teenagers and different problems. Although all of them to be friend, in reality not. Everyone busy with yourself but one.all of them have problems and most teenagers do not look around . just they want to change something according to them. In my opinion, these people are miserable because they don't never know what is the friendship. It is really shame for them. Anyway, that one lives bad days. She loves Marcus but he doesn't care her love. Maybe it is seen that she has not got any problems in her life. but actually nobody cares somebody's life or problems or such as other things in that school. They don't communicate with each other. she consistently tries to speak Marcus. But he doesn't want to speak with her. Then ,she starts to be desperate. although she is interested in friends, nobody does not take care of hers . So, she decides to kill herself.
Not for the faint hearted. it's difficult to tell who will love this film and who will find it thoroughly abhorred
john_keats19 August 2006
Well... What to say.
I think i shall start with a confession. I have cried 4 times in my life. once when my dad died, twice due to a girlfriend in high school, and at the end of this film. This film deals with the real confronting issues of 6 school kids, forcing them quite uncomfortably into the open for all the world to see. i have never seen a film that deals with the human emotional condition as well as this. everything from incest to incontinence is covered here and i doubt there are many people who are safe from the sting of familiarity with at least a couple of scenes.
It starts off with a suicide. at 2:37pm. then without letting you know who it was that died, the story begins to be told from the start of the day. it follows the lives of 6 school kids up until 2:37pm. it interchangeably, and edited with personal interviews of the 6 teenagers, lets you know everything about their lives. their loves, hates, dreams, desires, secrets, shame, false confidence, self loathing, corruption and arrogance. the overall outcome of which is a sort of "whodunnit" trying to discover the identity of the suicidal before it is revealed at the end of the film. without spoiling anything i must let you know. do not feel cheated by the ending. it contains a very important lesson.
And now a warning. this film is definitely NOT for the faint hearted. Many people actually walked out of the cinema half way through when i saw it. Disgusted by some of it's content. Or perhaps it's that it's sometimes hard to face the cold hard truth of reality. This is what high school is like for many people. i'm sure most would agree.
I think i shall start with a confession. I have cried 4 times in my life. once when my dad died, twice due to a girlfriend in high school, and at the end of this film. This film deals with the real confronting issues of 6 school kids, forcing them quite uncomfortably into the open for all the world to see. i have never seen a film that deals with the human emotional condition as well as this. everything from incest to incontinence is covered here and i doubt there are many people who are safe from the sting of familiarity with at least a couple of scenes.
It starts off with a suicide. at 2:37pm. then without letting you know who it was that died, the story begins to be told from the start of the day. it follows the lives of 6 school kids up until 2:37pm. it interchangeably, and edited with personal interviews of the 6 teenagers, lets you know everything about their lives. their loves, hates, dreams, desires, secrets, shame, false confidence, self loathing, corruption and arrogance. the overall outcome of which is a sort of "whodunnit" trying to discover the identity of the suicidal before it is revealed at the end of the film. without spoiling anything i must let you know. do not feel cheated by the ending. it contains a very important lesson.
And now a warning. this film is definitely NOT for the faint hearted. Many people actually walked out of the cinema half way through when i saw it. Disgusted by some of it's content. Or perhaps it's that it's sometimes hard to face the cold hard truth of reality. This is what high school is like for many people. i'm sure most would agree.
2.37
deryam-925 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I've never been so riled by a movie as this one- probably mainly because I've heard all Thalluri's pretentious comments that have gone with it in regard to its potential to save lives. In regard to the actual movie itself, I found the characters so 2 dimensional and chichedie, the 'cheerleader' was bulimic, the 'jock' was gay, the 'nerd' wet his pants (there is no talent in 'creating' such stereotypes)- and the movie didn't even begin to actually explore any depth to any of them, just simply presented the problems and 'suprised' us all by hysterically suiciding the one with the least screen time. I was personally annoyed by the gay themes- it was exactly as I imagine someone with no idea would think the struggle with coming to terms wit!h one's homosexuality would be like- the character locking himself in the closet with furious self-loathing was just hilarious! Overall, I think the entire movie was a beautifully packaged presentation of a rubbish script from someone without a scrap of insight to the very serious issues it attempted to tackle. (-And I agree with 'Boonda's comments on the 'lucky' statement at the end)
Well shot, well intentioned, and utterly wrong headed.
sethrp-111 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I caught 2:37 at the AFI Fest in Los Angeles. It's a very well shot first film (though the DV format begins to show itself in outside scenes), and I'm sure it has good intentions of showing us the "dark side" of high school - in other words every side of high school. But the filmmaker doesn't have the talent to write or direct up to the premise's promise. There are several characters, but none of them are any more than what the plot requires them to be. There's no depth to these caricatures beyond the machinations of "I am troubled teen X, I have Y problem." The perceived roles of men and women in this story are phenomenally troublesome.
Let's start with the men. You have the stoner kid who's gay, the jock who's also gay, the boy who rapes his sister, and Mr. Peepants. As the stereotype requires, all gay men must be sexually unfulfilled and violent toward women and themselves. Naturally (or unnaturally as the stereotype assumes), the two gay male characters beat up women, Peepants, and themselves. I'd be perfectly fine with these characterizations if the stereotypes were turned on their heads, or if the characters somehow transcended them. Yet neither took place, and that's all there is to these characters' stories.
Next, the ladies. One young woman wants to be a bulimic housewife, another is the pregnant rapee of the sister-raping brother, and there's the girl who kills herself (I'll get to that later). Again, I don't think there's a requirement of political correctness for filmmakers (I'd be out of a job were that the case), but I do think that it's only justified if there's more to that character or story. If that archetype were being used to reveal something about character other than "I'm a teenager and life sucks," I'd be happy as a clam. But nothing new is revealed! Nothing is subverted, or changed, or sublimated.
Finally, the girl who kills herself. This is blunt and HIGHLY sloppy storytelling. We're supposed to sit through 5 minutes of a girl violently killing herself who we've seen for maybe 30 seconds through the whole film? We've followed all these other stories for an hour and a half, and now we're invited to torture ourselves for a character that isn't part of the story? It's cheap, exploitative, and sloppy. Despite the millions of crappy indie films that came before this, you have to EARN something like that. You can't simply purchase it on credit. So this suicide happens, we get wrap-ups from the characters that go similarly nowhere but down, and the film ends. What have I learned? I already knew high school sucked - been there, done that. I already knew people have stereotypical views of gay men and young women. I already knew that kids with disabilities are mocked.
What else is there, then? Smoke, mirrors, and some really nice views of leaves. Oh, and the nastiest deus ex machina I've seen in a while.
Let's start with the men. You have the stoner kid who's gay, the jock who's also gay, the boy who rapes his sister, and Mr. Peepants. As the stereotype requires, all gay men must be sexually unfulfilled and violent toward women and themselves. Naturally (or unnaturally as the stereotype assumes), the two gay male characters beat up women, Peepants, and themselves. I'd be perfectly fine with these characterizations if the stereotypes were turned on their heads, or if the characters somehow transcended them. Yet neither took place, and that's all there is to these characters' stories.
Next, the ladies. One young woman wants to be a bulimic housewife, another is the pregnant rapee of the sister-raping brother, and there's the girl who kills herself (I'll get to that later). Again, I don't think there's a requirement of political correctness for filmmakers (I'd be out of a job were that the case), but I do think that it's only justified if there's more to that character or story. If that archetype were being used to reveal something about character other than "I'm a teenager and life sucks," I'd be happy as a clam. But nothing new is revealed! Nothing is subverted, or changed, or sublimated.
Finally, the girl who kills herself. This is blunt and HIGHLY sloppy storytelling. We're supposed to sit through 5 minutes of a girl violently killing herself who we've seen for maybe 30 seconds through the whole film? We've followed all these other stories for an hour and a half, and now we're invited to torture ourselves for a character that isn't part of the story? It's cheap, exploitative, and sloppy. Despite the millions of crappy indie films that came before this, you have to EARN something like that. You can't simply purchase it on credit. So this suicide happens, we get wrap-ups from the characters that go similarly nowhere but down, and the film ends. What have I learned? I already knew high school sucked - been there, done that. I already knew people have stereotypical views of gay men and young women. I already knew that kids with disabilities are mocked.
What else is there, then? Smoke, mirrors, and some really nice views of leaves. Oh, and the nastiest deus ex machina I've seen in a while.
Beautiful Yet Disturbing
Izzy_Duquette7 September 2008
At 2:37pm in a bathroom at an Adelaide highschool a student takes their own life and the different worlds of six teenagers are changed forever.
2:37 is a brutal, honest and breathtaking film centered on the pain of being a teenager. The film follows one day in the lives of six teenagers, all intertwined, all dealing with their own personal dramas. While there are a couple of stereotypes in the mix the beautiful would-be popular girl dealing with body issues, the over-achiever obsessed with his grades, there are several horrors that are as far from main-stream as you can get, including a social outcast dealing with a brutal illness and a young girl trying to make sense of a devastating event in her past.
The movie is mixed with documentary-style interviews from the characters, which some viewers may find a little out of place in the otherwise seamless narrative. The pace is also a little slow, but it fits with the feel of the movie. The young Australian actors are all stars in their own right, in particular Theresa Palmer who's heartbreaking performance earned her an AFI nomination.
The film is very well shot, with terrific direction. Some scenes are a little hard to watch in particular the five-minute-long suicide scene, but overall it is a film that leaves a big impact on its' viewers. It draws you in right from it's shocking opening scene and keeps you guessing as to which of the six main characters is going to be the one to end up in the bathroom. Ultimately, it's a beautiful made, but slightly disturbing look at teenage life.
2:37 is a brutal, honest and breathtaking film centered on the pain of being a teenager. The film follows one day in the lives of six teenagers, all intertwined, all dealing with their own personal dramas. While there are a couple of stereotypes in the mix the beautiful would-be popular girl dealing with body issues, the over-achiever obsessed with his grades, there are several horrors that are as far from main-stream as you can get, including a social outcast dealing with a brutal illness and a young girl trying to make sense of a devastating event in her past.
The movie is mixed with documentary-style interviews from the characters, which some viewers may find a little out of place in the otherwise seamless narrative. The pace is also a little slow, but it fits with the feel of the movie. The young Australian actors are all stars in their own right, in particular Theresa Palmer who's heartbreaking performance earned her an AFI nomination.
The film is very well shot, with terrific direction. Some scenes are a little hard to watch in particular the five-minute-long suicide scene, but overall it is a film that leaves a big impact on its' viewers. It draws you in right from it's shocking opening scene and keeps you guessing as to which of the six main characters is going to be the one to end up in the bathroom. Ultimately, it's a beautiful made, but slightly disturbing look at teenage life.
Very important situations of some teenagers and feelings of them
nurkahyaoglu8 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
As i am very interested in psychologic subjects, i liked this film so much. From the beginning, you can feel the pain the people experienced and try to find out is the starting related to this person or another one... i felt upset because of the faces that film contains. Every person had some stories and the way of sharing these were very sad.Besides, The soundtracks of the film effected me very deeply from beginning to end. The icons that were used in the film were also very attractive. The tree,for example, as i looked it i see the lives that mentioned in the film as leaves of the tree. Every cases were the matter of time on its own. Every person had a reason to be upset or to kill oneself but only one had the courage to do that. They had so many issues and problems in their life but nothing can be more hurtful than not being noticed. It is the biggest kind of pain. So, the more pain one feels, the more courage you find inside of oneself.
Plagiarising +Expolitative
snia000319 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This would have some merit if it wasn't a carbon copy of Gus Van Sant's Elephant. From the use of classical music to the long tracking shots to shots occasional cutting to shots of tree leaves (Van Sant does this also but uses clouds for the cutaways). Furthermore, the rape scene and the "twist" behind it is simply there to be controversial and shock audiences. It's intentions (these aforementioned devices) are so transparent that it fails dysmally.
The events leading up to the suicide are so melodramatic and exaggerated and completely lack any subtlety that they'd be better suited to an episode of Home and Away.
The fact that the story plays out more like a whodunnit thriller ends up undermining the whole point of the film. It's so caught up in it's own supposed cleverness that the viewer would almost feel cheated if they weren't treated to a suicide at the end.
What does the film say about suicide that we don't already know? It presents us with stock standard teenage problems without any new insight.
The acting is the only redeemable aspect of the film.
The events leading up to the suicide are so melodramatic and exaggerated and completely lack any subtlety that they'd be better suited to an episode of Home and Away.
The fact that the story plays out more like a whodunnit thriller ends up undermining the whole point of the film. It's so caught up in it's own supposed cleverness that the viewer would almost feel cheated if they weren't treated to a suicide at the end.
What does the film say about suicide that we don't already know? It presents us with stock standard teenage problems without any new insight.
The acting is the only redeemable aspect of the film.
Teenage angst
atlantis200631 March 2011
"No man is an island" wrote John Donne in a poem. And, certainly, to think of the human being as an isolated creature makes little sense. We are, after all, social animals. We need others, and we need them desperately. Thalluri's film deals with the intensity of high school and the need of the other, presenting a handful of characters that coexist in the same place. We cannot say they are friends, they barely know each other, each of them carries a burden so heavy that they become estranged, alone, and that's when the fear of losing one's own humanity is ignited.
We have the case of Marcus and Melody: brother and sister. They come from a wealthy family, well structured around male hegemony. Their father is very much alike the primordial father from a tribe that Fred describes in Totem and Taboo. This primordial father can have carnal knowledge with his offspring, because in these mythical prehistoric time no such thing as incest exists; however, the jealous sons will savagely kill the father, this powerful alpha male (a figure that bears some resemblance with Lacan's inverted E, which symbolized "the one man not castrated"). By killing the totem-father only taboo remains, and thus incest becomes the ultimate sin. When Marcus witnesses his father having sex he attributes this attitude as a total disregard for moral codes, after all, Marcus seems to imply that his father acts in such a way that he has no choice but to witness the coitus. This traumatic event triggers something deep inside his consciousness and as a result the incest fantasy and the rape fantasy will become firmly inserted in his psyche.
The first scene with Luke, the high school jock, is most revealing, as we see him in his bedroom, in front of his computer, stroking his penis most vigorously. What images appear in the computer screen? Luke is struggling with his own sexuality, he is in a place that Lacan would denominate 'minus phi' which is the inscription of a point of fracture in the imaginary, that indicates a certain fissure that affects the constitution of the libidinal object in which one's own image finds support.
"Uneven" Steven is a kid that suffers of genetic malformations, not only does he have one leg longer than the other, but he also has a condition that makes him lose control of his sphincters, and as a result he wets himself in class, becoming the target for everyone's cruel jokes.
Then there is Sean, a boy that openly assumes his homosexuality and pays the price for it, being constantly mocked by Luke's friends and other guys in school. The only way for him to cope with this is escaping into a world of stupor produced by his marijuana consumption.
Finally there are two girls that play a very relevant role in this film, that owes much to Gus Van Sant's (listed in the credits) realistic and insightful approach of adolescence: Sarah, Luke's girlfriend, makes the mistake of caring too much for her boyfriend, and consequently once she begins to have doubts about her future with him, everything falls apart. Kelly, on the other hand, is perhaps the nicest person in school. She seems to genuinely try to help everyone, she is kind with boys and girls, instead of creating problems she tries to find a solution for them. When everyone attacks Steven she makes sure he's going to be OK.
However, all of them suffer from teenage angst. But this is not the typical, cliché angst. Lacanian psychoanalysts might ask why despite all the amount of scientific knowledge that has been accumulated, and the efforts to establish theories that presuppose to grant us reassurance (Levis Straus structuralism and Hegel historicism that aims towards the acquisition of the Absolute Knowledge, in other words a conceptualization that implies a theory without remainders) we still experience restlessness? Lacan asked himself "why is it that we so much want to preserve the dimension of anxiety?". Anxiety is a horrible thing and yet is there a human need to preserve it? In this regard Kierkegaard may be closer to the question of angst when he speaks about the psychological ambiguity concerning this concept "Anxiety is a sympathetic antipathy and an antipathetic sympathy". Arguably, the existence of angst points out to something that cannot be reduced to a rational category, and without which a truly reflection on the question of ethics is useless. We find this sympathetic antipathy in characters like Marcus, who has a strong relationship with his sister and at the same time despises her. The antipathetic sympathy is present in Kelly, the sweetest girl that treats everyone kindly but that secretly feels alienated, incapable of anything but antipathy for herself.
However they are all connected, and what they do will affect the lives of the others. What happens then when during the first minutes of the film someone commits suicide? Life is a tricky business, that's for sure. But life as teenagers can be even trickier.
We have the case of Marcus and Melody: brother and sister. They come from a wealthy family, well structured around male hegemony. Their father is very much alike the primordial father from a tribe that Fred describes in Totem and Taboo. This primordial father can have carnal knowledge with his offspring, because in these mythical prehistoric time no such thing as incest exists; however, the jealous sons will savagely kill the father, this powerful alpha male (a figure that bears some resemblance with Lacan's inverted E, which symbolized "the one man not castrated"). By killing the totem-father only taboo remains, and thus incest becomes the ultimate sin. When Marcus witnesses his father having sex he attributes this attitude as a total disregard for moral codes, after all, Marcus seems to imply that his father acts in such a way that he has no choice but to witness the coitus. This traumatic event triggers something deep inside his consciousness and as a result the incest fantasy and the rape fantasy will become firmly inserted in his psyche.
The first scene with Luke, the high school jock, is most revealing, as we see him in his bedroom, in front of his computer, stroking his penis most vigorously. What images appear in the computer screen? Luke is struggling with his own sexuality, he is in a place that Lacan would denominate 'minus phi' which is the inscription of a point of fracture in the imaginary, that indicates a certain fissure that affects the constitution of the libidinal object in which one's own image finds support.
"Uneven" Steven is a kid that suffers of genetic malformations, not only does he have one leg longer than the other, but he also has a condition that makes him lose control of his sphincters, and as a result he wets himself in class, becoming the target for everyone's cruel jokes.
Then there is Sean, a boy that openly assumes his homosexuality and pays the price for it, being constantly mocked by Luke's friends and other guys in school. The only way for him to cope with this is escaping into a world of stupor produced by his marijuana consumption.
Finally there are two girls that play a very relevant role in this film, that owes much to Gus Van Sant's (listed in the credits) realistic and insightful approach of adolescence: Sarah, Luke's girlfriend, makes the mistake of caring too much for her boyfriend, and consequently once she begins to have doubts about her future with him, everything falls apart. Kelly, on the other hand, is perhaps the nicest person in school. She seems to genuinely try to help everyone, she is kind with boys and girls, instead of creating problems she tries to find a solution for them. When everyone attacks Steven she makes sure he's going to be OK.
However, all of them suffer from teenage angst. But this is not the typical, cliché angst. Lacanian psychoanalysts might ask why despite all the amount of scientific knowledge that has been accumulated, and the efforts to establish theories that presuppose to grant us reassurance (Levis Straus structuralism and Hegel historicism that aims towards the acquisition of the Absolute Knowledge, in other words a conceptualization that implies a theory without remainders) we still experience restlessness? Lacan asked himself "why is it that we so much want to preserve the dimension of anxiety?". Anxiety is a horrible thing and yet is there a human need to preserve it? In this regard Kierkegaard may be closer to the question of angst when he speaks about the psychological ambiguity concerning this concept "Anxiety is a sympathetic antipathy and an antipathetic sympathy". Arguably, the existence of angst points out to something that cannot be reduced to a rational category, and without which a truly reflection on the question of ethics is useless. We find this sympathetic antipathy in characters like Marcus, who has a strong relationship with his sister and at the same time despises her. The antipathetic sympathy is present in Kelly, the sweetest girl that treats everyone kindly but that secretly feels alienated, incapable of anything but antipathy for herself.
However they are all connected, and what they do will affect the lives of the others. What happens then when during the first minutes of the film someone commits suicide? Life is a tricky business, that's for sure. But life as teenagers can be even trickier.
summary
glsm_zn_1628 December 2011
2:37 marks the cinematic debut of young South Australian filmmaker Murali K Thalluri.
It's R-rated because of its theme of teen suicide. This event is discovered in the very first minutes of the film. We don't know the identity of the student who killed him or herself but the film goes back to the beginning of the day to track the lives of six teenagers who might or might not be the victim.
Each of these young high school students are coping with problems, ranging from pregnancy to incontinence.
2:37 copped a lot of criticism when it screened for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival this year because of its similarity in style at least to Gus Van Sant's Palm d'Or –winning Elephant, which was also set in a high school.
Van Sant famously used long tracking shots and repeated moments in time from different angles to establish a day in the life of a school. And the similarities in style at least are unmistakable.
But Thalluri gives much greater access to these teen lives than van Sant would ever dream of. Just about every teen problem from fear of one's sexuality to incest is represented.
The performances from a group of unknown actors are impressive, they are reportedly fellow students of the director. But the denouement at the end leaves one with a feeling of having been manipulated, undoubtedly by a young man with talent, but manipulated nevertheless.
It's hard to sort the chaff from the wheat with this one, don't you think David?
It's R-rated because of its theme of teen suicide. This event is discovered in the very first minutes of the film. We don't know the identity of the student who killed him or herself but the film goes back to the beginning of the day to track the lives of six teenagers who might or might not be the victim.
Each of these young high school students are coping with problems, ranging from pregnancy to incontinence.
2:37 copped a lot of criticism when it screened for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival this year because of its similarity in style at least to Gus Van Sant's Palm d'Or –winning Elephant, which was also set in a high school.
Van Sant famously used long tracking shots and repeated moments in time from different angles to establish a day in the life of a school. And the similarities in style at least are unmistakable.
But Thalluri gives much greater access to these teen lives than van Sant would ever dream of. Just about every teen problem from fear of one's sexuality to incest is represented.
The performances from a group of unknown actors are impressive, they are reportedly fellow students of the director. But the denouement at the end leaves one with a feeling of having been manipulated, undoubtedly by a young man with talent, but manipulated nevertheless.
It's hard to sort the chaff from the wheat with this one, don't you think David?
unexpected suicide
bsr-gl9328 December 2011
Sometimes all of us may think that we have many problems in our life and we may think we are the most unlucky human in the world. After i watched this film my opinion has changed. At the end of the film, indicating the reality of the film is really impressed me. That is why my opinion has changed.
At the beginning of the film, they let you know there is a suicide and then the film tells you about the six teenagers and their psychological problems and you want to learn who is the suicided. It makes this film more enjoyable and it makes sensation.
There is a girl who helps everyone. She is the most lively person. You may think she is the person who has the least psychological problems but unexpectedly she commit suicide. I think she commit suicide because of being ignored and unnoticed. That is really unguessable ending.
At the beginning of the film, they let you know there is a suicide and then the film tells you about the six teenagers and their psychological problems and you want to learn who is the suicided. It makes this film more enjoyable and it makes sensation.
There is a girl who helps everyone. She is the most lively person. You may think she is the person who has the least psychological problems but unexpectedly she commit suicide. I think she commit suicide because of being ignored and unnoticed. That is really unguessable ending.
Must see for anyone in high school or with kids in school.
jolbromski22 August 2006
It was riveting. I just could not look away. As the movie rolled on I started to feel that it was powerful and confronting, but i had no idea how much more intense it would get.
The movie gives an insight into what unfortunately is everyday life for a lot of school kids. Some of us live outside that environment and would walk by and not know what is happening.
Parents need to see this film in particular, just to see a glimpse of what their kids go through. Often parent dismiss their kids problems as trivial, but unfortunately to a high schooler they are massive. And unfortunately the problems can escalate into a tragedy.
Definitively a must see for all.
The movie gives an insight into what unfortunately is everyday life for a lot of school kids. Some of us live outside that environment and would walk by and not know what is happening.
Parents need to see this film in particular, just to see a glimpse of what their kids go through. Often parent dismiss their kids problems as trivial, but unfortunately to a high schooler they are massive. And unfortunately the problems can escalate into a tragedy.
Definitively a must see for all.
To be honest, I didn't like the film so much.
gokberk_094 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
To be honest, I didn't like the film so much. According to me, There were bad things. For example, the cut back to the scene was unnecessary. All of us knew the first cut and we understood the explanation from Melody that her brother touched her before, but she didn't say anything. (But we didn't get the explanation for some of the scenes.) Her brother touched her every time and I think that she must have said something about this situation. Besides them, there were good things. One of them is that the storyline was nice and the actors and actresses were real and they played very well. But their characters in the film were not soul. That's, they were a bit nonsense. We can say that the film is dramatic and maybe it makes you cry. In short, as I said at the top of the text, I didn't like so much. However, do you suggest this film if you ask me, I can say that No. I don't suggest.
A strong and brilliant portrayal of school life.
mbilbetaylor7 August 2006
I had the pleasure of witnessing this brilliant film at a preview screening in Sydney. Although it was a pleasure to see it. Pleasure is not the emotion you are left with as the credits roll.
2:37 is a film that tackles not just one stigma felt by young individuals but all of them. Chief of which is isolation. It is not just to place the films final galvanising scene on a pedestal above the others, but rather it is important to see it as the culmination. And from that, it is important to realise what it represents to both you as the viewer and to the people directly effected by it.
2:37 is not a soft picture but the manner in which Mr Thalluri handles it's subject matter with a profound dignity and it's no holds barred approach acts as credit to it's message.
I do not believe films such as 2:37 should be scaled by votes of favour. Rather it should be recommended to those looking for purpose in their viewing.
A brilliantly crafted portrait of innocence lost. And a master stroke for a as of yet untaped talent.
Not to be missed.
2:37 is a film that tackles not just one stigma felt by young individuals but all of them. Chief of which is isolation. It is not just to place the films final galvanising scene on a pedestal above the others, but rather it is important to see it as the culmination. And from that, it is important to realise what it represents to both you as the viewer and to the people directly effected by it.
2:37 is not a soft picture but the manner in which Mr Thalluri handles it's subject matter with a profound dignity and it's no holds barred approach acts as credit to it's message.
I do not believe films such as 2:37 should be scaled by votes of favour. Rather it should be recommended to those looking for purpose in their viewing.
A brilliantly crafted portrait of innocence lost. And a master stroke for a as of yet untaped talent.
Not to be missed.
one of the most heartbreaking and eyes wetting movie...
meetallica4 January 2012
When the movie started i felt the perfection.For teenager education parents should watch this movie.The movie shows the reality of life and gives examples what students face each day in the school.
Really touchy movie and and catchy story that i never forget in my life.
To be honest mostly people think life is colorful and worths to live after the movie there is obvious message that life is not that such colorful.The love, tears, laughter and many feelings i had when i was watching this movie.It shows somehow the pointless ways of life and the tragic coincidences of life.
Really touchy movie and and catchy story that i never forget in my life.
To be honest mostly people think life is colorful and worths to live after the movie there is obvious message that life is not that such colorful.The love, tears, laughter and many feelings i had when i was watching this movie.It shows somehow the pointless ways of life and the tragic coincidences of life.
You've got to be kidding
useranon9920 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This film is so copy-cat, cliché-ridden, clumsy, and laboured, I find it astounding that anyone could not feel cheated by the experience of sitting through it.
Here is the range of idiotic clichés, ridiculous psychologising, and simply unfeasible storytelling in this "hard hitting" representation of high school: The tough guy jock is really a homosexual. The A-student is unhappy because his father pushes him and somehow this causes him to commit incest. A teacher is mean to a student who wets his pants in class. A girl who is going out with the above-mentioned jock is really in love with him and "just wants a family".
Maybe the only saving grace is the student counsellor scenes which are vaguely interesting, but most of the devices in this film are so leaden that it beggars belief.
This film shows me no insight into teenagers and I will not be surprised when it bombs, especially with teenagers. The people who like this film seem to be parents worried about their teenagers, and boy are they barking up the wrong tree if they think this film will help with "understanding" teen issues. I mean, what is the moral of this film? "Hey guys, let's all look out for each other and hug each other" GIVE ME A BREAK. Anyone who thinks you can get through to a 14 year old with that kind of message needs to think back. In the 1980s we were watching Kentucky Fried Movie, Xtro, Porky's, Evil Dead, Terminator, etc. This film will fall on deaf ears.
2:37 is right up there with another Australian "indepedent" film, 'One Perfect Day,' which was as bad as this utter turkey of a film. Thank god no taxpayers money was spent on this boloney.
AVOID!!!!
Here is the range of idiotic clichés, ridiculous psychologising, and simply unfeasible storytelling in this "hard hitting" representation of high school: The tough guy jock is really a homosexual. The A-student is unhappy because his father pushes him and somehow this causes him to commit incest. A teacher is mean to a student who wets his pants in class. A girl who is going out with the above-mentioned jock is really in love with him and "just wants a family".
Maybe the only saving grace is the student counsellor scenes which are vaguely interesting, but most of the devices in this film are so leaden that it beggars belief.
This film shows me no insight into teenagers and I will not be surprised when it bombs, especially with teenagers. The people who like this film seem to be parents worried about their teenagers, and boy are they barking up the wrong tree if they think this film will help with "understanding" teen issues. I mean, what is the moral of this film? "Hey guys, let's all look out for each other and hug each other" GIVE ME A BREAK. Anyone who thinks you can get through to a 14 year old with that kind of message needs to think back. In the 1980s we were watching Kentucky Fried Movie, Xtro, Porky's, Evil Dead, Terminator, etc. This film will fall on deaf ears.
2:37 is right up there with another Australian "indepedent" film, 'One Perfect Day,' which was as bad as this utter turkey of a film. Thank god no taxpayers money was spent on this boloney.
AVOID!!!!
Very revealing and moving piece if film 10\10
sbayley8410 August 2006
I saw this movie tonight in a preview showing and it was fantastic. It does well in portraying issues that the average High School student is subjected to.
I left the movie feeling stunned and saddened and yet grateful that this movie will have a chance to raise awareness through its audiences regarding these issues (bullying, rape, suicide and depression).
Its a Fantastic Aussie Film.
Go see it.
Support it.
Learn from it.
I left the movie feeling stunned and saddened and yet grateful that this movie will have a chance to raise awareness through its audiences regarding these issues (bullying, rape, suicide and depression).
Its a Fantastic Aussie Film.
Go see it.
Support it.
Learn from it.
If they had toned done a few scenes, it would have been a great movie
kosmasp5 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This comment does contain spoiler, so don't read on, if you haven't seen the movie or don't want to know anything about the movie, before you watch it!
If you're cursing slasher movies or recent torture movies (such as Hostel and so forth), for showing too much, than you can say the same thing about this drama. I'm starting off with the bad thing, about this movie, because otherwise I would've given it a much higher rating. The drama part works, the storyline is working great (keeps you guessing who committed a crime/suicide), the actors are very real, too!
The main problem for me are two scenes: The death scene at the end ... although I would've forgiven this one, if it weren't for another scene! The rape scene! It cut away and in my opinion it should've stayed away. The cut back to the scene, was unnecessary! We knew what happened with the first cut. We even got the explanation from Melody herself, that her brother only "touched" her before, but this was the first time he actually had sex with her ... raped her is the better word. There are questions to be asked about this, too. Why didn't she say anything before? He touched her the whole time, she should have said something! More importantly, what the brother did was unforgivable! I really wanted to see him suffer in some way (first he talked down to the girl who committed suicide, then the rape thing ... that Dude has serious issues and they won't go away).
I know it's only a movie, but I don't know how much of the stuff in the movie is based on reality or if it's all fiction and just a movie to the remembrance of a special person (I forgot her name, but she was mentioned at the end of the movie). Some people surely feel otherwise and that's OK, but I do think that less is sometimes more! It would've been in this case/movie ...
If you're cursing slasher movies or recent torture movies (such as Hostel and so forth), for showing too much, than you can say the same thing about this drama. I'm starting off with the bad thing, about this movie, because otherwise I would've given it a much higher rating. The drama part works, the storyline is working great (keeps you guessing who committed a crime/suicide), the actors are very real, too!
The main problem for me are two scenes: The death scene at the end ... although I would've forgiven this one, if it weren't for another scene! The rape scene! It cut away and in my opinion it should've stayed away. The cut back to the scene, was unnecessary! We knew what happened with the first cut. We even got the explanation from Melody herself, that her brother only "touched" her before, but this was the first time he actually had sex with her ... raped her is the better word. There are questions to be asked about this, too. Why didn't she say anything before? He touched her the whole time, she should have said something! More importantly, what the brother did was unforgivable! I really wanted to see him suffer in some way (first he talked down to the girl who committed suicide, then the rape thing ... that Dude has serious issues and they won't go away).
I know it's only a movie, but I don't know how much of the stuff in the movie is based on reality or if it's all fiction and just a movie to the remembrance of a special person (I forgot her name, but she was mentioned at the end of the movie). Some people surely feel otherwise and that's OK, but I do think that less is sometimes more! It would've been in this case/movie ...
I guess we all have to start somewhere.....
janeane-baker17 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This movie made me think....of how I could write something about it without personally dissing the director and all the actors, who, as an Australian, I am proud of for actually getting out there and making a film.
But the movie itself? Let me tell you a story....
Found this DVD in my local rental shop yesterday and had vague recollections of the reviews at the time of cinema release here, so I thought I would give it a go.
For some reason, I decided to watch the 'special features' before I watched the actual movie, not something that I usually do. Turned the 'making of' off halfway through, as I'd had enough cringing at the 'aren't we so wonderful for putting together such a hard hitting film with such a raw script' attitude.
The movie? Ugh. Full of clichés and pathetic character development. The actors? Well done guys, you are Aussies and I applaud you. And, just like a footy team is only as good as the coach that directs them, you unfortunately did NOT have a great script to work with.
I felt that the movie actually trivialised so many of the subjects that it seemed to want to cover. I have seen many reviews here that refer to it as nothing more than a soap. Agreed.
Finally (and forgive me if I don't phrase this correctly), I was extremely disappointed that there were no optimistic overtones at all. Yes, we all know that life is full of hard stuff, and yes we know that things such as incest DO occur, but I really find it hard to applaud a movie that has not one piece of joy in it. I believe that a director has a responsibility to put it in there SOMEWHERE. Otherwise, the movie is all about THEM and THEIR feelings, they have created it for themselves, not for an audience.
Which I think is the basis of why this movie isn't so great. The special features mention that the director wrote the screenplay in a 36 hour sitting, the day after he himself tried to end his own life. Well, it may have been cathartic for him to do this, however the movie reeks of self-indulgence when you know the story behind why it was written. "I feel horrid, I'm going to write a movie about feeling horrid". (Note: I have read the interview with Andrew Urban, and understand WHY Thalluri needed to write something to help him through his own issues, but I believe there is a line in film that cannot be crossed - the line of making a movie purely for your own emotional needs, and I feel that this is what has unintentionally happened here)
By his own admission, the director had no technical experience at all, and sadly, this makes the movie come off looking like nothing more than a year twelve media project.
As for any recommendations that this movie should be studied at school, or that all teenagers should watch it - not sure there either. Because there is a VERY dangerous line at the end. I too have been in a place where I have thought that someone who no longer has to 'face life' is 'lucky', but as an adult, I do worry that this line could be influential on a young viewer that was in a vulnerable frame of mind. Might be in there to promote discussion, but again, it reflects no possibility of redemption or joy in this story as a whole. In fact, it almost indicates that there is more sadness to come.
I haven't seen Elephant, but I just might go find it, given all the comparisons here.
Nothing personal here guys, I do hope you can make another movie someday, and we all have to start out somewhere, so forgive me if I've been too harsh. I am glad that you are proud of what you created, which in the end is what life is all about. It's not a movie I would recommend though.
Oh, I DID like the way the time-frames often collided, thought that was an interesting way to film.
But the whole "Its the quiet ones you have to watch" - we already know that.
But the movie itself? Let me tell you a story....
Found this DVD in my local rental shop yesterday and had vague recollections of the reviews at the time of cinema release here, so I thought I would give it a go.
For some reason, I decided to watch the 'special features' before I watched the actual movie, not something that I usually do. Turned the 'making of' off halfway through, as I'd had enough cringing at the 'aren't we so wonderful for putting together such a hard hitting film with such a raw script' attitude.
The movie? Ugh. Full of clichés and pathetic character development. The actors? Well done guys, you are Aussies and I applaud you. And, just like a footy team is only as good as the coach that directs them, you unfortunately did NOT have a great script to work with.
I felt that the movie actually trivialised so many of the subjects that it seemed to want to cover. I have seen many reviews here that refer to it as nothing more than a soap. Agreed.
Finally (and forgive me if I don't phrase this correctly), I was extremely disappointed that there were no optimistic overtones at all. Yes, we all know that life is full of hard stuff, and yes we know that things such as incest DO occur, but I really find it hard to applaud a movie that has not one piece of joy in it. I believe that a director has a responsibility to put it in there SOMEWHERE. Otherwise, the movie is all about THEM and THEIR feelings, they have created it for themselves, not for an audience.
Which I think is the basis of why this movie isn't so great. The special features mention that the director wrote the screenplay in a 36 hour sitting, the day after he himself tried to end his own life. Well, it may have been cathartic for him to do this, however the movie reeks of self-indulgence when you know the story behind why it was written. "I feel horrid, I'm going to write a movie about feeling horrid". (Note: I have read the interview with Andrew Urban, and understand WHY Thalluri needed to write something to help him through his own issues, but I believe there is a line in film that cannot be crossed - the line of making a movie purely for your own emotional needs, and I feel that this is what has unintentionally happened here)
By his own admission, the director had no technical experience at all, and sadly, this makes the movie come off looking like nothing more than a year twelve media project.
As for any recommendations that this movie should be studied at school, or that all teenagers should watch it - not sure there either. Because there is a VERY dangerous line at the end. I too have been in a place where I have thought that someone who no longer has to 'face life' is 'lucky', but as an adult, I do worry that this line could be influential on a young viewer that was in a vulnerable frame of mind. Might be in there to promote discussion, but again, it reflects no possibility of redemption or joy in this story as a whole. In fact, it almost indicates that there is more sadness to come.
I haven't seen Elephant, but I just might go find it, given all the comparisons here.
Nothing personal here guys, I do hope you can make another movie someday, and we all have to start out somewhere, so forgive me if I've been too harsh. I am glad that you are proud of what you created, which in the end is what life is all about. It's not a movie I would recommend though.
Oh, I DID like the way the time-frames often collided, thought that was an interesting way to film.
But the whole "Its the quiet ones you have to watch" - we already know that.
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