Perth Voice Interactive

BLUNT could be the most Fremantle film ever made – it was shot in the port city, most of the cast and crew are locals, and it was partly funded by a gig with Freo bands.

In fact, a lot of the scenes were filmed around the corner from the Chook’s office at The Bistrot Cafe in the city’s historic West End.

The short indie film follows an aspiring young chef trying to prove himself at a struggling restaurant, while battling a sceptical family and the threat of closure. Determined to succeed, he takes an unconventional and daring step to keep his culinary dream alive. But at what cost?

In recent years there have been a spate of dramas about the pressures of working in a commercial kitchen, so what make’s Blunt stand out from the crowd?

“What sets our story apart is that our lead character doesn’t get what he wants – he doesn’t win,” says Blunt director Alex Power.

“So many of these narratives end with the chef triumphing, even after a struggle.

“What I loved about Blunt is that he falls short of his original goal, yet he isn’t defeated. Instead, he carves out his own path, one that values the people around him.

“It reinforces the idea that success isn’t always about leaving to chase greatness – it can be about making the best of what’s already in front of you.”

Shot in 2024, Blunt was entirely self-funded with the Freo community rallying around to help get it made, including a special fundraising gig with local bands Ghost Care, Spici Water and Daisy Park.

Almost all the extras in the last scene at the restaurant are from Fremantle and Hamilton Hill, the film’s co-writer and lead actor Archie Lush grew up in the port city and went to John Curtin College of the Arts, and editor Hamish Paterson and co-writer/actor Luis Basnett live in the port city.

A lot of the props and set designs were taken from the feature film Overture which wrapped the day before production started on Blunt, and the filmmakers enlisted local chef Iara Arruda to make sure the kitchen scenes were realistic.

Power lived and worked in Freo for half a decade and says there’s nowhere else like it in Australia.

“The arts are woven into the fabric of Freo’s culture, so choosing to film there was an easy decision,” the director says. 

“What makes it even more special is the way the community, even those outside the arts, rally around creatives.

“When it came to finding the perfect locations, the locals stepped up, offering their resources and support to help bring this film to life. That spirit of championing artists and artistry is what I find so special about Freo.”

The short film has been well-received by critics and is gaining traction on the festival circuit – it’s in contention at St Kilda Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival and Tribeca. 

Power is an up-and-coming director who has made several award-winning short films including Extremely Irrevocably Dead and Lola’s.

He’s worked on the set of major international productions with heavyweight directors like Baz Luhrmann, Ron Howard and Zak Hilditch, and recently finished working on a film with Aussie auteur Bruce Beresford.

“I’ve worked on a range of sets – from big Hollywood productions to independent TV and countless short films – and if there’s one constant, it’s that it’s never easy,” Power says.

“Every project is a labour of love, with everyone involved, from the actors to the PAs, pouring everything they have into it.

“For me personally, this project came at an intense time. I had just finished working on a Bruce Beresford film, shooting around Fremantle while we were deep in pre-production.

“I was spending 60 hours a week on set, then using every free moment – every sleepless night – getting this film ready. 

“So honestly, the entire process was a challenge – but that’s always the case. And we do it because we love it.”

To find out more about Blunt see instagram.com/Bluntshortfilm.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK