FIVE MOMENTS OF INFIDELITY (2006)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
It is always gratifying to know that all major cities, countries and continents around the world share the same problems with relationships, including the city of Melbourne in Australia. The means by which someone cheats is hinted at in "Five Moments of Infidelity," though the film aims to be more than a parable of infidelity.
In the opening scene, we see Narelle (Sally McDonald) in bed with another man, Billy (Kirk Westwood). Nothing too shocking about that yet our initial impression is that these two are lovebirds, signaling the beginning of a new relationship. We find out that Narelle, a secretary, is indeed in love with the new man in her life, though he turns out to be a womanizer and "loves" her but is not in love, despite allowing her access to his apartment.
Then there is the gay couple, Danny (Jason Chong) and Mitchel (Joshua Cameron), who love to party and have seemingly agreed to having an "open" relationship. Danny, however, is not keen on it - maybe he loves the idea of pursuing another man but not necessarily to have sex with and destroy what he has (presumably, fidelity also springs from having to live in the same roof).
Jacinta (Holly Sinclair) is the innocent teenager who hates her alcoholic mother (Annie Jones). This conflicted, dysfunctional family unit is like something out of an episode of "East Enders," and perhaps the harshest in this string of infidelity episodes. The father (Brett Swain) has the toughest time putting up with a series of shouting matches between mother and daughter so, yes, a psychiatrist is needed for this family. Paging Dr. Phil!
Hard-working Anthony (Alex Papps) and his long-suffering wife, Vicki (Amanda Douge), have a tougher time making love - he is so stressed and blames work. Vicki has had enough of masturbating in the shower - she pursues a man and actively seeks some human contact. Who can blame her for being simply horny.
Last but not least is the strange dynamic between another hard-working man, Hayden (John Sheedy), and his terminally annoying and annoyed and downright fed-up American girlfriend, Brittney (Charmaine Gorman). She hates when Hayden goes to parties by himself, hates it when he doesn't call or show up at a more convenient time, yet sometimes she doesn't mind and loves him. It is not unreasonable to expect Hayden to seek interests elsewhere since this woman is always having a crying fit and can drive someone quite mad.
First-time writer-director Kate Gorman weaves these infidelity tales with ease. There is almost never a wasted moment - every scene feels true to the characters' dilemnas. Some characters, such as Vicki and Hayden, feel more realistically portrayed than others but generally Gorman does an admirable job of handling this Altmanesque narrative. In fact, some of the characters' denouements are left open-ended, making one wonder what will happen next in their lives. Though these episodes often smacks of British melodrama, on the order of East Enders, it is at times quite sharply written and directed. And the dysfunctional family unit has its own issues of faith and fidelity to family - it is the most emotionally wrenching tale of them all with the tragic, memorable beauty of the lost soul, Jacinta.
My feeling on "Five Moments of Infidelity" is that it has a groove and either you are in harmony with it or you are not. The characters have a measure of depth to their personalities and they do grow on you, even the gay couple who are given less screen time than anyone else. Sometimes working hard at your job and bringing flowers for your loved ones or significant others is not enough to repair the emotional work one must put out. "Five Moments of Infidelity" shows how hard it is have a relationship that works.
