But Also John Clarke shows why society must make room for unicorns like Clarke. The movie is an ‘absolute ripper’ to use one of his phrases.
If you’re from New Zealand, as I am, you’ll know John Clarke from his legendary character Fred Dagg. Dagg was a much-loved sheep farmer who had kiwis in fits of laughter as they contemplated the hidden roasting behind the laugh.
Australians also came to love him, when rather than bend to the will of some officious NZ television executives, Clarke simply left the country and started again in Australia.
Clarke was utterly unique, his humour unforgettable. I remember tuning into the end of the news just to watch the three minute interviews between Clarke and Dawe. These priceless pieces have never been replicated and I doubt they ever will.
Clarkes satirical human was born out of hours of studying human nature. He mined our inner core and reflected back our outlandish idiosyncrasies in ways illuminating, disarming and funny.
Yet we knew very little about the man himself, perhaps that’s why he was so believable as other characters. Thankfully that’s about to change in this lovingly insightful documentary.
The movie uses archival footage to remind us of the many ways he touched our lives, but it is the private conversations with his daughter Lorin Clarke and the family videos that are the most poignant.
Lorin has allowed us to peek inside the family photo album, along with 200+ boxes of personal work and letters, to showcase a very tough early childhood and difficult school years, which point to his resistance to authority.
In another delight, the movie includes interviews with forty-two of John’s friends, colleagues and collaborators, including Ben Elton, Sam Neill, Bryan Dawe, Andrew Denton, Ernie Dingo, Jana Wendt, Shaun Micallef, David Wenham and Wendy Harmer.
As the credits rolled I pondered:
- The movie provides even more insight into how utterly unique Clarke was, in the same vein as another one-off legend Spike Milligan;
- It is a reminder of how our standard education system is no place for true creatives. Thank goodness he escaped before the system achieved what one headmaster had wanted to do … “we’re going to break your spirit”;
- As pointed out in the movie the gold dust in his work was that you often felt he was letting you into a private joke, just the two of you;
- What a joy to see the twinkle in his eye again. A mischievous boy who has left such an immense legacy, something we see in the likes of Utopia, Uncle Arhtur, Reece Darby and so many more;
- It’s heartbreaking to hear once again that the clown who gave us so much love and laughter had a shocking sad upbringing;
- Ultimately the movie is a striking reminder to be yourself and that in a world where we’re all becoming the same in thought and appearance, we must not let society eradicate individuality. Clarke once said “life would be pretty boring if we didn’t make it funny”, well how sad would have been without the likes of Clarke;
- Thank you to Lorin for sharing her father once more.
In cinemas September 4. For more information go to Luna Cinemas.
