Nitram

Plot

Based on the true events of Martin Bryant, who was the worst mass shooter in Australian history. ** Spoilers will be in review **

In the mid-1990s in Tasmania, lives Nitram – a mid-20 man with intellectual disabilities. He lives with his mother, who has tired of tolerating his childlike behaviour – and father who is too worn out but is more empathetic, and desperate to start a new journey buying a Bed and Breakfast.

He meets a new friend, Helen – a lonely millionaire – and soon discovers a passion for guns, and shooting things.

Direction

Directed by Justin Kurzel, he does a great job in portraying the neighbourhoods of 1990’s Australia – from the vehicles, to some of the businesses’ that existed in that time.

There is some solid direction at times, one notable moment was during the famous car accident. It is shown from the back seat as the car flips – and shows two characters in the front seat being thrown around killing one of them.

Cast/Characters

American Caleb Landry-Jones plays the title role of Nitram – and does flawless Australian accent. He plays Nitram well, with his childlike nature despite being a grown man. At times his age did show at times, but Bryant was 28 at the time of the shooting.

Legendary Australian actress Judy Davis plays Nitram’s mother – who is almost his antagonist in his story. She is cold, distant and unloving. As the movie unfolds, she has her own moments of sympathy.

Anthony LaPaglia – is the soft natured Dad – who longs to buy a Bed and Breakfast. He is a little more understanding of Nitram but also has a few moments where he is embarrassed by his actions. His suicide is seen here due to his severe depression.

Essie Davis plays Helen (based on the real-life Helen Mary Elizabeth Harvey), a local resident and wealthy heiress who takes a shining to Nitram, and allows him to live with her. Davis is the wife of director. Helen’s death in a car accident occurred.

Screenplay/Setting/Themes

Wonderfully written, and there is an almost forgotten part of Australian history where Nitram goes to a gun shop to buy all the guns and ammunition. I was only 13 at the time of the Port Arthur massacre, so this was a foreign memory to me. John Howard’s gun reform was historic at the time.

There is a very sombre story that ‘Mum’ tells Helen about when Nitram went missing when he was five, and how he ‘laughed at her pain.’ While she might be seen to be ‘antagonistic’ towards him, she in reality is just broken down by decades of a son who can’t show love.

The timeline of events in the movie were a little inconsistent in contrast to real life events. Helen died four years before the PAM, and his father died three years before. This is only briefly seen as Nitram goes on Holidays to America before the events. Both are reportedly thought to be ‘not accidental’ in real life vs what was shown on screen, which is even more frightening if true.

There was a touching moment towards the end of the film, when Nitram and his mother have one last dinner together, and after tucking him in she says ‘goodbye’ to him.

Score/Soundtrack

The score matches the tone of the feelings of what the characters are going through, like the sombre tones when Dad loses the B&B – and quite eerie during the shooting training moments of the caravan and the snow globes.

Overall

A very well-made film, considering the source material being a true story. The performances by the four leads are wonderful, but Landry-Jones is the real MVP with a flawless Australian accent.

I found Nitram a little too sympathetic at times, and wish he was written a little more antagonistic – especially considering the real-life implications of his actions. The state of Tasmania gave no funding towards this, and family members of the victims were not consulted before making the film – and this is quite telling.

4/5

https://antandrymoviechats.podbean.com/e/nitram-2021/