Adapted by Lowenstein from the book of the same name by John Birmingham, Felafel tracks the settlement of Danny - Noah Taylor - in three different share houses in three different cities - Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney - over a period of nine months. Various people come and go but there are some regulars. Sam, Danny`s grounded best friend played by Emily Hamilton, the mad cane toad golfer Taylor played by Alex Menglet, and the constantly out-of-it Flip - Brett Stewart. Danny escapes from arrears in rent from the Brisbane house just as the gothic spiritualists arrive in the form of Anya - Romane Bohringer and moves to rain soaked Melbourne to live with a health-food nazi. It`s not long before his credit card and others catch up with him .
This melange of characters is hugely enjoyable. The film is dialogue driven but it`s visually inventive, cheekily wry about sex and the cities and very convincingly performed by an ensemble cast. Holding the film together is the presence of Noah Taylor whose occasionally laconic, occasionally loquacious take on life is both resigned and romantic. It`s terrific to see Lowenstein at work again, this film confirms his talent as a writer/director.
