Australian
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Teacher’s notes

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This clip shows Kenny (Shane Jacobson), a plumber for a portable toilet company, taking his son (Jesse Jacobson) to visit his father (Ronald Jacobson). Kenny gives down-to-earth answers when his son asks about his atheism, prompted by Kenny’s ex-wife’s opinions. At his father’s mobile home, Kenny’s good nature and pride in his work are tested by his father’s attitude to the job and his obsessive cleanliness (he insists that Kenny change his clothes and put his feet on mats). Kenny remains even-tempered and expects his son to show respect for his grandfather.

Educational value points

• This clip is from a 'mockumentary’, a film that uses documentary techniques to tell a fictitious story. Mockumentaries are non-factual documentaries intended to parody, critique or deconstruct popular culture and discourse by faking the conventions of documentary films. This clip is a good example of the genre as it employs conventions such as actuality footage and what appears to be Kenny’s response to an interview question, heard here as a voice-over.

• The naturalistic elements in the clip lend realism to the fictional characters. Much of the authenticity is gained from the characters being played by members of a real-life family, but it is also found in the naturalism of their performances, their broad accents and idiomatic dialogue. The trying situation in the car in which Kenny honestly answers his son’s leading question about God while muttering his irritable asides to himself is conveyed with a genuine naturalness.

• Using a small hand-held digital video (DV) camera can create greater intimacy between viewers and the characters. Although often used when the budget is limited, as was the case for this film, small DV cameras can unobtrusively create an intense and immediate view of the action. This allows for shots that would be otherwise extremely difficult and cumbersome to achieve, such as the interplay in one continuous shot of Kenny and his son in the car.

• The content and placement of Kenny’s voice-over establishes his father’s character and narrative function. The voice-over, in which Kenny appears to be thinking aloud about his father’s objections to his career choice, is laid over footage of Kenny and his son walking towards his father’s mobile home. That sets up Kenny’s relationship with his father who is tense and fussy and thus encourages the viewer to find pathos and comedy in their shared scenes.

• The abrupt cut in the footage from the mention of the gown to Kenny’s wearing of it provides a good example of how comedy can be derived from editing. The cut misdirects viewers’ expectations, eliciting surprise and amusement. Following from Kenny’s protests the viewer is surprised to see him instantly wearing the gown. The cut draws added attention to the bad fit of the gown, especially after his father’s reassurance that it would be suitable.

• The nature of Kenny’s relationship with his son is simply and effectively presented when they sing their adulterated version of the national anthem as they drive. While the singing provides a temporal structure to the journey, in that it creates the impression of time passing, it primarily serves as a symbolic device to portray Kenny’s uninhibited, good-natured and loving parenting and his son’s positive, enthusiastic response.

This clip starts approximately 20 minutes into the feature.

Kenny is driving in the car with his son.
Kenny How you been mate? You been good? We’ll get you down to your grandad’s. We’re just going to go down Ocean Grove to the beach. You like it down at the beach don’t you mate? What do you say eh?
Jesse Dad, are you going to hell?
Kenny Am I going to hell? No, I’m not going to hell. Not as far as I know. Why’s that?
Jesse Because mum said … mum said you don’t believe in God.
Kenny Mum said I don’t believe in God. And that’s why I’m going to hell? Well mate ah. Look, I’ll tell you what, when God introduces himself to me, I’ll give him my full attention. I’ll give him 150 per cent mate. But until then, I’m just a little bit busy. Jesus, and I’m goin’ to hell she reckons’. (sighs) To be quite honest, I think I’m already in it. Am I goin’ to hell …

Kenny and his son Jesse are now driving on the highway.
Jesse (laughs)
Kenny and Jesse (singing) Australians all let us ring Joyce for we are young and free…
Kenny She’s free!
Jesse (laughs)

Kenny and Jesse walk into the caravan park.
Kenny You know, If my son ended up doing this job, I don’t think I’d be that upset by that. If he was happy and he had good people around him, like I’ve got good people around me, and he’s making OK money and he’s proud of what he does as a trade, ‘cos don’t forget, it is a trade — I’d be stoked for him.
Kenny and Jesse stand outside the grandfather’s cabin.
Kenny Hello. You there, Dad? Hey mate, how ya going?
Grandfather Ah, you made it I see.
Kenny I did. Come to see you again. Say hello to your grandfather, son.
Grandfather Take your shoes off boy. I don’t want you dragging mud in all over the place.
Kenny Pop them off.
Grandfather You better get yours off too.
Kenny Alright, we’ll pop ‘em off. You been well?
Grandfather Oh yeah. Listen —
Kenny goes to sit down on the coach
Grandfather … hey, hey, just before, wait on. I’ve just, I’ve just had that Scotchgarded there. You better get these off. You better get these off.
The grandfather is pointing at Kenny’s overalls
Kenny Well, they’re clean. I’ve only dropped into the office this morning. There’s no business on ‘em. I’m actually going to a job tonight.
Grandfather Well, they don’t look too flash to me. Get ‘em off, I got something you can wear. Get them off.
Kenny Well, what do you want me … I can’t run around in me jocks dad.
Grandfather I’ve got something … I’ve got a gown here you can put on. Nobody’s going to see you, for Christ’s sake. Just take them off.
Kenny What am I going to wear?
Grandfather I’ve got a gown. I’ve got a gown, I’ve said.
Kenny and Jesse sit on the couch while the grandfather erects a collapsible table in front of them.
Kenny So, what else is news, dad? What have you been doing?
Grandfather Not a lot. There’s not a lot to do down here. It goes past with monotonous regularity. Just don’t take your foot off the thing. I’ll get a couple of coasters there. Won’t be a tick.
Kenny Alright.
The grandfather returns with coasters and mugs.
Grandfather There you go young fella. Try not to spill that. Keep your eye on him.
Kenny He’ll be right dad. There you go son.
Grandfather I’ll give you a tea. I’m a bit light on for coffee. My pension doesn’t come through ‘til next week.