The Xrossing

source: The Xrossing

The Xrossing is an enthralling and beautifully imagined tale that must be seen! Starring Kelton Pell as the reclusive Bobby, and Luke Morgan as the conflicted Chris. Brilliantly navigating the poignant themes of racism and acceptance. Meanwhile , friendships and morals are tested. The serene atmospheric music , and epic cinematography , encompass a gripping narrative written by the talented Carl Maiorana and first time feature director Steven John Mihaljevich. 5/5stars

Such a must see movie. The cinematography, the music, the acting. To see something filmed in the area I live and see my favourite places viewed in a different way was incredible. The story is so sad, but uplifting, confronting yet full of growth. Characters so familiar to us in their actions. This is a story that needs to be told and learned from. Well done!!

I watched this film at the Revelation Film Festival in Perth, December 2021. The audience mood shifted from enjoying the aesthetics of an unforgiving but attractive Western Australian setting and considered music selections, to becoming engrossed in unapologetic yet purposeful observations about attitudes that underpin modern Australia. While too many Australian films obsess over elongated and superfluous shots of landscape; the fine writing and directing in The Xrossing interweave relevant and beautifully shot sequences to enhance and complement the intricate, relevant and original narrative Kelton Pell's ability to capture the nuances of an honourable and misunderstood character and wordless displays of strength and dignity are simply a wonder to watch on the big screen. Learning about Pell's contribution to the script at the pre-show panel discussion made sense because Bobby radiates a precious and patient sincerity that all would do well to emulate. Steve Mihaljevich's multi-layered performance as gang leader 'Phoenix' as he negotiates power, loyalty and escape is thrilling to watch because his burgeoning goodness clashes with his violent and resolute nature. Evoking empathy for such a violent and unpredictable criminal is testament to Mihaljevich's skillset as an actor and director. Luke Morgan as 'Chris' and Georgia Eyers as 'Abbey' have a playful connection that provides some welcomed comedic relief from harrowing scenes and also gives subtle hints about what or who could be helpful in developing empathy and connection in a context of judgement and mistruth. Overall, watch this grubby beauty for the aesthetics, subtle and original shifts character intricacies, powerful performances and one striking, unencumbered and thrilling story that will throw your feelings and beliefs around until the ending and beyond.

The Xrossing in Review I had the privilege of seeing The Xrossing twice and on both occasions I was deeply moved by both the thought provoking story and the outstanding performances of the cast. This is a significant film for our times and I believe will be well received internationally. The opening scenes introduce the audience to a landscape familiar to Perth residents, revealing the unique beauty of the eastern metropolitan bushland and historical landmarks . Nestled within the story begins. A murder of a young girl has the community talking and reactive opinions are quickly being formed. Meeting the three young characters, you are quickly drawn into their situation as they process what has happened to their friend and how they deal with this new reality. But there is so much more to this film. This story will take you back to when our youthful personas emerged to meet life's journey and remember how with only a pocket full of experience, we navigated our Xrossings with the people and circumstances that awaited us. This is a must see film so make sure you experience The Xrossing for yourself.

I grew up in Swan View and attended the local high school. Watching this I felt like I had been transported back to that time. It truly captured what life was like growing up there. The drug culture that sucked in so many to those that yearned to leave 6056 in their rear view mirror. It brought to light the sadness of the institutionalised racism among the locals despite a high indigenous population. It was such a powerful message sent by Bobby by returning the wallet to Chris and in turn his desire to right his wrongs.

I'm still processing this outstanding film... I literally walked out of the theatre speechless... in a good way! Beautifully shot showcasing our stunning corner of the world, The Xrossing certainly lived up to all the hype. The acting, production and script were absolutely flawless, not at all reflective of its limited production budget. Though very confronting at times, the beauty of the cinematography coupled with the acting and the script, resulted in a very thought provoking film with an important message. An incredible achievement for all of those involved in producing this superb film. Highly recommend!

Shot in Western Australia, this gritty film punches way above budget, exploring some of the dark sides of human nature. With an indigenous Australian man assumed as the murderer of a young girl, a group of would be local vigilantes seek "revenge." A clash of contrasting personalities and tensive events build and climax, eliciting the audience into weighing up issues that confront us more and more in the modern world - where views on prejudice, violence, revenge, deceit and justice are ever-changing at our forefront. The film leaves the audience thinking and reflecting after the final credit roll. A hidden gem that many will discover

Watched this film as part of the Saint Louis Film festival, and I was happily surprised by the scenography and the story line. It was an easy film to follow and very entertaining. All the characters come together great, great actors. Highly recommend this film to everybody.

The buzz around this film - and the awards it was winning internationally- meant I had pretty high expectations for it, and they were more than exceeded! The story of the struggle to break the cycle of crime, ignorance and bigotry is handled with aplomb and becomes increasingly engrossing as it unfolds. It is never predictable or trite and brings several genuinely moving moments. The performances of the main characters are all incredible - nuanced and subtle and completely believable at all times. The movie also shows different aspects of the city of Perth - it's natural beauty on full display alongside it's seedier human side. This film deserves all the accolades and compliments it has been receiving and I highly recommend checking it out.