Can you turn a song into a movie?
Well, musician Megan Washington and director Nick Waterman thought they’d give it a go. The writing partners, and partners in real life, put their heads together to adapt one of Australia’s most beloved songs ‘How to Make Gravy’ by the legendary Paul Kelly. If you’re not familiar with this classic, it’s a Christmas tale of a family getting together and sharing the holiday told from a father’s point of view.
A Festive Family Tale with a Twist
Megan and Nick broke down every line of the song, picking it apart like a turkey at Christmas dinner – looking for juicy characters and tasty morsels of story. Paul Kelly wasn’t too involved in the movie, trusting the filmmakers to create their own feast. (Which they did by hand-making their stuffing to fill in any gaps in the turkey/plot…ok, I’m done with this metaphor).
In this adaptation, the family patriarch Joe is arrested at Christmas and despite being behind bars, he must keep his family together on the outside while surviving on the inside. Think ‘The Castle’ meets ‘The Shawshank Redemption’.
The cast is great, including Hugo Weaving in one of his more understated yet powerful performances, letting his sheer presence and stoic manner drive the character. However, the heart of this film is Daniel Henshall who plays the father, Joe. As one of my favourite actors, he uses his talent for being endearing one second and threatening the next. I rarely cry in films (anymore), but the father/son relationship hit me right in the feels.
The real treat is when you listen to Kelly’s song after watching the movie and realise the attention to detail and creativity that was taken to make this film. I’m sure hardcore Kelly fans will be pointing and whistling at the screen when they recognise familiar lyrics brought to life. Although not a musical, Megan Washington composed some emotive original songs that helped elevate the experience.
File this with ‘Love Actually’ as one of those Christmas movies that isn’t always cheery but still offers the sentiment of family, love and togetherness.
How To Make Gravy is streaming now on BINGE.
Read more stories from our Redcliffe Guide print magazine here:
- Get Together for A Happy Hippie Xmas
- Local Organisation a Safe Haven for Animals
- Your Time, Are You Investing it or Spending it?
- Family Fun at Redcliffe: Budget-Friendly Ways to Enjoy the School Holidays
- Christmas Under Canvas
- Community Hub Gets Crafty
- Staying Grounded Amid Holiday Pressures
- Discover Stories From the Past on the Redcliffe Esplanade Walk
- Candles Capture Local Scenti-ments
- Making Waves With Waterbikes – The Latest In Beachside Family Fun
- Businesses Buzz at Chamber of Commerce Awards
- St Mary’s Christmas Fair 2024
- Reflection on the Year 2024: Celebrating Health and Strength
- Reddy Roundup: Updates from the Community
