Pulse

Australia • 2016 • 84m •

• Directed by: Stevie Cruz-Martin. • Starring: Caroline Brazier, Daniel Monks, Scott Lee, Sian Ewers, Isaro Kayitesi, Jaimee Peasley, Troy Rodger, David Richardson, Lee Jankowski, Karli Rae Grogan, Josephine Langford, Joshua Charles Dawe, Kate Neylon. • Music by: Featurette.

A gay disabled teenage boy changes into the body of a beautiful woman, so that he can be loved.

Review:

'Pulse' is a most entertaining and at times illuminating portal into gender and sexuality exploration. It heralds the feature film debut of its extraordinary writerco-producerco-editor and star Daniel Monks and his long time collaborator Stevie Cruz-Martin. Daniel's 'Ollie' is impossible not to barrack for, right from the opening images taken from real life home movies of a young Daniel Monks. The rest of the narrative is a work of fiction but these affecting shots set an important scene and feeling for what is to come in 'Pulse'.

Ollie has physical disabilities and he is also trying to navigate his sexual identity and gender identity as the story moves into a most unexpected and unusual sphere, utilizing familiar tropes but still emerging with a distinct approach. Relying a great deal on the audience's connection with Monks' 'Ollie', 'Pulse' is propelled also by some outstanding performances, especially that of Caroline Brazier as Ollie's Mum; particularly a showdown towards the end of the movie which is simply electric. Brazier is a familiar voice and face in Australian film and television and it is great to see her in a leading role and providing such centre and texture to what is a meaty role., but could have, in lesser hands been two dimensional. The supporting cast of young actors are mostly fine, and Scott Lee does immensely well as Ollie's best mate.

The ending feels a little unsatisfying, but the courage and depth of all that has come before it, adds up to a very interesting and at times moving account of the awakening of this very real young person, and the at times surreal devices used to depict this rite of passage. I feel it is an important local film and encourage folks to seek it out if progressive and trans formative cinema is on your radar. Kudos to Daniel Monks and his Director Stevie Cruz-Martin for bringing us into the world of gender and sexuality exploration.

Review by david-rector-85092 from the Internet Movie Database.