At a quick glance the new Australian docco The Triangle Wars is really only a film that residents of St Kilda would find interesting, however if you assume that you are very, very wrong. After viewing the film I can say with certainty that this is a very important film indeed, this is a film that shows that ‘people power’ still has some worth in modern society and just goes to show that if a council/government makes a decision it is never the end of the matter.
For those unaware of what happened, basically The Triangle Wars centres around a fight that lasted three years (and is still going in some forms). The then St Kilda council announced that they were looking at a proposal from Citta’s Stephen McMillan which would involve a piece of St Kilda’s heritage being turned into a shopping mall. With the council debating the decision a group of St Kilda residents led by photographer, Serge Thomann decided to fight back. Soon celebrities such as Dave Hughes, Rachel Griffiths and Rod Quantock were also on-side and the fight was really on.
First time director, Rosie Jones does a great job making this docco accessible to everyone (not just St Kilda residents). She manages to show no bias with the docco even having interviews with Cr Dick Gross (a supporter of The Triangle Development) and even with the developer himself, Stephen McMillan. Many filmmakers would never have interviewed these two as they would want the docco to come from the public’s point of view, but by including these interviews she gets her point across really easily. McMillan is extremely unlikeable in his interview – it is clear he has no sympathy for the suburb or people of St Kilda and this speaks to the audience so much.
There are a couple of technical hiccups with the docco, shots out of focus etc, but they are minimal and for the most part you find yourself truly engrossed in the film, and yes you even find yourself barracking for the people of St Kilda in the same way you supported The Kerrigans in The Castle.
The Triangle Wars is a fascinating docco that does a good job providing information while remaining entertaining. If you like doccos that expose government corruption or shows the might of people-power then you’ve got to give The Triangle Wars a look. This is a docco that every Australian must see.
Year: 2011
Director: Rosie Jones
Stars: Rosie Jones, Serge Thomann, Stephen McMillan, Dick Gross, Rachel Griffiths, Rod Quantock, Dave Hughes
Classification: M
Runtime: 90 mins
Rating: 