After years of work on the project, a local director’s twist on Christmas is finally hitting the big screen, with a very special hometown showing.
Heath Davis wrapped up filming on his movie ‘Christmess’ in mid-2022, with the process since then being difficult, but rewarding.
“It was long, but it was joyous, because we knew we had something good,” Davis told the Weekender.
The film, which tells the story of Chris Flint – a once-famous actor who, straight out of rehab, takes a job as Santa Claus in a suburban strip mall – had its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival, something Davis said was an unforgettable experience.
“It was full of all these famous people who all came out and said they loved the movie, so that was really great,” he said.
“Now, it’s the fun part, because you get to share it with everybody, and people seem to really like it.”
Davis said that the positive reception has been overwhelming, suggesting that the love for the film comes down to the fact that it captures the true meaning of Christmas – human connection.
“I think people are connecting to it because everyone can identify with the characters in some way in this movie, because everybody’s Christmas isn’t the Hallmark movie, ‘Love Actually’ isn’t real,” he said.
“This is kind of an accurate depiction of a lot of people’s Christmases – it’s funny, it’s sad, and all of those things that people love going to the movies for.”
Screenings have been announced for venues all over Australia and New Zealand, but Davis said he’s most excited to be bringing it home.
“We made ‘Book Week’, the last film, out there too, and I used to teach out there, so it’s always good to bring something back to the people that you love and have known forever, because they know your journey,” he said.
“To see them watch it and enjoy it is a pretty awesome feeling.”
Davis said he’s hoping to see the local community rally around ‘Christmess’ when it comes to Glenbrook Cinema on Monday, November 27.
“The more people that go to the cinema, the more sessions we’ll get, and I just know, because I’ve seen it with enough people now from all different walks of life and different parts of the world, that if they give it a chance and see it, they’re going to connect with it, they’re going to have a good time, and they’re going to like it,” he said.
‘Christmess’ will be on at Glenbrook Cinema on Monday, November 27 at 7pm, with a Q&A with Davis, and on Saturday, December 2 at 12.40pm. For more information or to book, visit www.glenbrookcinema.com.au.
Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022.
