Writer/director Paul Cox is one of Australia's most prolific filmmakers. With movies such as Innocence, Man of Flowers and My First Wife, he's secured an international reputation. Human Touch, starring Chris Haywood, is Cox's 21st feature.
a cynical male fantasy
My difficulty with Human Touch is that I didn't connect with any of the characters enough to want to become part of their lives. Their concerns about love and art seem distant and hollow. But in particular, I was irritated by the relationship between Anna and the older male artist, Edward. Which is a problem, because the film is essentially about their connection. He's the worldly male who leads her on an intimate voyage of self-discovery. Give me a break. This is a cynical male fantasy and I don't need to hear an older man telling me – as I wilt under his wisdom – what a woman really needs. I think we can figure it out for ourselves.
