FRESH OFF THE PLANE AND IN NEED OF MONEY,
two Finnish backpackers find themselves the latest batch of “fresh meat”
sent to work as barmaids at the only pub in a remote Australian mining town.
Confronted with a culture of alienation and impunity – in limbo between being desired and disdained,
their working holiday rapidly deteriorates into a bizarre test of endurance, as they discover
that to meet expectations they’ll need to do more than just pour drinks.
Set deep in Australia’s harsh interior, Hotel Coolgardie is a sometimes amusing, sometimes appalling,
surprisingly moving portrait of small town insularity, fragile masculinity and
the plight of the outsider forced to adapt or face the consequences.
“RIVETING… REMARKABLE… holds you right to the very end…”
★★★★ David Stratton
“JAW-DROPPING… one of the most CONFRONTING and COMPELLING
documentaries EVER FILMED in this country.”
★★★★½ Melbourne Herald Sun
“sad… FUNNY… cringe-worthy… STAGGERING… shocking… EXTRAORDINARY”
★★★★½ Radio 6PR
“…packs an EMOTIONAL WALLOP… one of the most CAPTIVATING
Australian documentaries in recent memory…”
★★★★ Cinema Australia
“…BLOODY AMAZING… do not miss it.”
★★★★½ Leigh Paatsch / 1116FM Radio SEN
“…a NIGHTMARE VERSION OF CHEERS…”
POV Magazine
“a JAW-DROPPING documentary that lingered for many days after seeing it…
one of the most IMPORTANT and SHOCKING films,
documentary or otherwise, to come out of Australia in ages.” ★★★★ Film Blerg
“…veers between INTIMATE MOMENTS of human warmth and vulnerability
to DISTURBING verbal and physical violations” ★★★★ Front Row Reviews
“Hotel Coolgardie is to BOGANS what JAWS is to SHARKS.” The Brag
“…an ethnography of LIBIDINAL MASCULINITY, BOOZING and CUSSING…” Senses of Cinema
“a STAGGERING piece of work…
…achieves WHAT ALL FILMMAKERS SHOULD REALLY ASPIRE to… capturing the TRUTH
of the human condition, the naked lunch for all to see, and putting
it out there unconcerned with box office or public approval.” ★★★★ Otago Daily Times
“completely unexpected, COMPLETELY STUNNING.” ★★★★ The Young Folks
“…borders on being FRIGHTENING, HILARIOUS and HEARTBREAKING all at once” AB Reviews Best Of 2017
“…full of ANXIETY, COMEDY, FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, NAIL BITING TENSION and DESPERATE UNEASINESS…
a BRILLIANT film…” The Curb: The Best Australian Films of the Decade
“…a sly and lighthearted HUMOUR throughout an otherwise ASTONISHING narrative…
…captivates from INTRIGUING start to BITTERSWEET end…” Slug Magazine
“Gleeson weaves in a SLY SENSE OF HUMOUR…
Reminiscent of the dust-laden classic WAKE IN FRIGHT…” Cult Projections
“an 83 minute CRINGEATHON…” Australian Financial Review
“…BEAUTIFULLY realised…” Fillums
“…IMPORTANT and TIMELY… sociologically FASCINATING…
takes a hard UNFLINCHING look at FRAGILE MASCULINITY” Toronto Film Scene
“SIMMERING, UNSETTLING, ACCOMPLISHED verité…” Tom Roston
” a MARVEL… almost from a different world.” Scene Creek
“feels already like a TIMELESS film.” Hunter & Bligh
“a COMPELLING yet CHILLING watch…” Stuff NZ
“…an UNFORGETTABLE piece of work…” Wylie Writes
96B FM Auckland with Mikey Havoc [LISTEN]
CinefestOz Director Interview, ABC South West [LISTEN]
Triple J with Veronica & Lewis, Director Interview [LISTEN]
For all media and publicity inquiries: Raw And Cooked Media
Distribution enquiries: Raw And Cooked Media (Australia) / Journeyman Pictures (International)
Join our mailing list
