Just a Farmer

Director: Simon Lyndon
Starring: Leila Mcdougall, Susan Prior, Joel Jackson, Robert Taylor, Oliver Overton, Vivian McDougall, Damian Walshe-Howling, Trevor Jamieson, Louise Siversen

Runtime: 104 mins. Reviewed in Mar 2024
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

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Rating notes: Mature themes, suicide themes and coarse language

There is something sad in hearing the dismissive phrase about someone, ‘Just a…’ This is a small but effective Australian film focusing on rural life and issues of mental health. In fact, at the beginning and end of the film, there is the urging for anyone anxious to contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue.

The power behind the film is Leila McDougall, a teacher and farmer’s wife who, with her husband, established the rural and remote health charitable organisation Live Rural in 2014. She was concerned about the mental health of farmers and rural workers. (Studies have found that people living in rural and remote Australia are up to twice as likely to die by suicide as people living in major cities.)

Mcdougall plays the central character, Alison, and much of the filming was done at the family property in Tatyoon, Victoria (including the sequence in the actual local Uniting Church), and many of the locals acting in the film, and local farm equipment used throughout.

Jackson is Alec. A farmer, he shows initial signs of some depression as he works with his alcoholic father, Owen (veteran actor Taylor). Soon into the film, he kills himself. The screenplay takes up the themes of stoic continuing with life, almost as if the tragedy had not happened. Alison perseveres with the tasks around the farm. The children are sad, somewhat withdrawn, the boy lashing out during a local football match. Owen continues his drinking at the pub, sad memories of his dead wife in the past, suffering a stroke.

Another theme, as you would expect and hope, is that of how whoever is suffering can unburden themselves, talk to someone, talk to someone who is empathetic. Alison relies on her sister who has come to help, finding a listening ear in the woman who runs the local pub. And, the importance of the mother talking with her children, listening to her children, enabling them to express their sorrow and puzzle.

This is a topical film, made with insight and compassion, a contribution to awareness of Australian mental health.