He Died with a Felafel in His Hand. Image: Richard Lowenstein, 2001.
MA15+ | 107 Mins | 2001 | DCP | AUS | D: Richard Lowenstein
In He Died with a Felafel in his Hand, author John Birmingham draws on his colourful experiences as a share house tenant, having lived with over 80 different people across 13 Australian share houses. This independent autobiographical novel was adapted into a long-running stage play, as well as Richard Lowenstein’s 2001 tragicomedy.
The film follows Danny (Noah Taylor), who moves from share house to share house and city to city, failing to escape the quicksand of problematic housemates, destructive behaviours and unsavoury conditions that typify share house life.
Through its keen observation of drug use, sexuality and stark economic realities, He Died with a Felafel in his Hand embodies many of the characteristics of Australian grunge literature, its wry humour offering an almost satirical take on an otherwise deeply realist genre.
‘…a beer-splattered kaleidoscope of outrageous sharehouse situations…The exaggerated truth in the tales connected with readers living through it or remembering their experiences’ – The Guardian
Part of Book Club at the NFSA, presented in partnership with Canberra Writers Festival. A discounted triple film pass is available for Australian grunge lit screenings in August: Richard Lowenstein’s He Died with a Felafel in his Hand (11 Aug), Ken Cameron’s Monkey Grip (18 Aug), and Ana Kokkinos’ Head On (25 Aug), the latter followed by a discussion with writer Anthony Mullins. A discounted season pass is also available for the full Book Club at the NFSA program.
The details
What: He Died with a Felafel in His Hand screening
When: 1 pm, Sunday 11 August 2024
Where: Arc Cinema, NFSA Acton
Cost: $12–16 via the NFSA website (individual screening) | $32–38 Australian grunge lit triple film pass via the NFSA website
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