User reviews

A sweet little movie with great characters and a pleasantly optimistic plot about dealing with grief and life's challenges. Lapaglia is great and the support cast excellent.

I nice little Aussie gem. Americans can learn a lot about sweet movies that you don't gag on.

Some films attract critical consensus while others trigger polar opposite opinions like A Month of Sundays (2016). Australian colloquial drama is not for everyone and it takes patience to engage with slow-paced laconic narratives that rely on insider humour for meaning. Aussie horrors and dystopian thrillers are well known but there are few films that stand tall for sensitively exploring the inner world of male emotion. In fact, we have culturally fortified ourselves with a style of Ocker farce to shield us from knowing too much about what lurks within the Australian male.

Lacklustre real estate agent Frank (Anthony LaPaglia) is the quintessential Aussie bloke. He is a poor salesman and has neither the verbal wit or emotional maturity to deal with the double-barrel grief of his recent divorce or his mother's recent death. By extraordinary coincidence he takes a misdirected call from Sarah (Julia Blake) who sounds just like his mother and the few minutes on the phone fills an emotional void. One thing leads to another, they become friends, and Frank learns to open up on the various emotional fronts of his life. The sub-plot lines include redeeming the relationship with his son, resolving feelings about his wife and mother, dealing with Sarah's health issues, and experiencing the ordinary pleasure of being nice to people. It's a simple narrative arc, but dense with emotional side-tracks and blockages that Frank cannot resolve alone. Themes of emotional estrangement, aging, death and grief are lightened by the deadpan humour exchanged between Frank and his boss (John Clarke) and the constant running commentary in real estate language, a clever device that mocks the Aussie obsession with property ownership.

The filming has many long fixed frames and scenes where nothing happens except what we can infer is going on inside Frank's head. When he appears to be struggling emotionally, the recurring real estate babble kicks in to punctuate the silence while he retreats into his private world of make- believe sales talk with imaginary buyers. Some critics have panned the film's central premise and slow-burn plot, but it stands out as a thoughtful and well-acted portrait of an emotionally convoluted archetypal Australian male who exists just this side of clinical depression. Frank is ordinariness personified and not very likable at all, but he is very recognisable in this country. This is an original funny-sad look at a type of Aussie male who should watch this film for their own good.

Seeing John Clarke in the cast was one of the main reasons that encouraged me to see 'A month of Sundays'. On that score, I wasn't disappointed, Clarke gave a polished performance with a few of his usual sarcastic/humorous one liners perfectly delivered. While obviously a film of redemption, son's trying to justify and/or prove themselves to their elders, to me the movie lacked a real plot or something to bond it together. It meandered along in its own way, much like the main character, struggling real estate salesman Franks, played by Anthony LaPaglia who did do a great impression of a Real estate agent, albeit not an over enthusiastic one ! Overall it was watchable, but for me fell a little short of being memorable.

At random from the tv guide we record movies sometimes because an actor we know is quoted, the title inspires or simply because the abstract makes us curious. Why "A month of Sundays" I'd say A Lapaglia, and John Clarke did it! I had to check google for the title's meaning. I was quite satisfied in relation to this movie where one given suggestion was " a long dreary time since games and other kinds of amusement used to be forbidden on Sunday" Enjoyment is not necessarily about fun. (again words don't do it here if we don't all agree about their value) I'm trying to say I really enjoy this movie even if it was little fun. Perhaps "appreciate" would be a better choice. But I watched AMOS intently and did not mind the slow pace at all. Unlike watching 18 hrs of Indian Pacific train from Perth to Sydney! With the film, I became part of it anticipating the next development. I wish I had the writing skill of the CineMuseFilms review here as it expresses so much what I felt and know about what it's portrayed. I felt it was not far fetch as coincidences do exist and can develop into something else where there is a vacuum waiting to be filled. I'm not an Aussie block but do know some that do fit this profile too! As always I don't give rating But I did "appreciate" this effort very much

The movie goes along at a medium pace with an original theme, with a couple of twists thrown in.

The acting was all good.

Nice locations.

A good to watch on a Sunday afternoon.

Real estate agent Frank Mollard (Anthony LaPaglia) can't move on. Divorced but still attached, he can't connect with his teenage son. One night Frank gets a phone call from his mother who died a year ago. This leads him to explore his grief with wise elder, Sarah played by Julia Blake ('Man of Flowers', 'Prisoner', 'Innocence', 'Wolverine').

Set in the leafy suburban streets of picturesque Adelaide, it's a gentle tale of modern life during a real estate boom and of the human connection that makes a house a home. It is really about everything; parents, children, regrets, love, work, grief and ordinary people finding improbable salvation.

Adelaidey-odlians will find it especially poignant because it involves a nostalgic nod to the ¼ acre block with fruit trees that is rapidly being consigned to history. But with the superb cast, it's a very fine film, regardless. LaPaglia (ex-Norwood High School) and Julia Blake (at 79 years) are note perfect in the lead roles.

LaPaglia's real estate agent, Frank, is a sad sack with his rut deeply, sharply cut. All locations are described with his realtor's double-speak, even when he comes home to his Linden Park unit after work; "Needs a little attention, decorator's dream" etc.

Mixed with the serious themes, there's plenty to laugh at in Frank's interactions with his newly successful ex-wife played by Justine Clarke, and in his clumsy interactions with his son and potential home-buyers. His boss is played by ex-Kiwi, the beloved comic John Clarke who inevitably steals all his scenes with hilarious dead-pan contributions. There's also a hearing impaired element to the story which can make this film that rare, rich experience for the deaf community (in its closed caption version) and the wider audience.

With equal parts comedy, tragedy and heart-warming wisdom, writer director Matthew Saville (Tim Winton's 'Cloudstreet', 'Roy Hollsdotter Live' & Chris Lilley films) has created an understated masterpiece to sit alongside great suburban Adelaide films such as 'Travelling Light', 'Return Home' and 'Look Both Ways'. (Snowtown is in another genre!) Cinematographer Mark Wareham throws our streets and backyards onto the big screen with great understanding and skill, so best get yourself secure housing in Adelaide if you can, before the whole world sees this big-hearted film and comes a-bidding.

Andrew Bunney, Let's Go to the Pictures, 9-11 AM Thursday, 3D Radio, Adelaide 937FM, Digital, iTunes

Australian Cinema is breathtakingly unique. Usually far more nuanced, better written and beautifully acted than it's brash, loud American cousins or its often predictable British sisters. This film is equally deeply thoughtful and quietly hilarious, though it deals with some dark material. Australian films have much in common with European cinema and sensibility but remain very different.

"A Month of Sundays" is a gorgeous slow burn. With extraordinarily relatable and expert acting and a script as tight as a wine cork it's a joy to watch. Turn your phone off. Lock the front door. Pull the curtains and relish every minute.

Anthony La Paglia almost carries this gentle examination of Frank Mollard, a divorced Adelaide real estate agent experiencing mid life crisis. Almost, but for a very good supporting cadt and script.

By chance, Frank meets Sarah (Julia Blake) who helps him overcome the loss of his mother. She tires of him but then feels guilty for doing so.

The great John Clarke plays Philip, Frank's sardonic real estate business partner.

Sarah makes a positive difference to both men's lives and splashes humanity into the film.

Frank's narration consists of his imaginary real estate advertisements wherever he goes, for business or otherwise.

When a down-on-his-luck real estate agent, named Frank, receives a phone call from a woman purporting to his mother, he plays along with the "prank" (his mother died the prior year!) until he realizes that the woman dialed his number by mistake. But his wanting to relive his life brings him to meet the lady who called him and become her friend, in a mother/son way.

While Frank's life has many more "downs" than "ups", lately, his new friend is just what he needs to find a new purpose in life.

"A Month of Sundays" achieves a delicate balance of drama, pathos and light-hearted comedy in a way that may have you shedding a few tears, along with a few shudders and laughs.

Anthony is terrific, perfectly performed. A true Australian masterpiece, H opefully you can see the deep emotional connections made by A. L, as the transitions through the various stages of the movie. I you dont well this movie is not for you. The supporting cast do a stella job in painting the strong emotional connections that are repaired through the course of the movie.

The support cast are perfect, they all blend into the plot seamlessly helping the star A. L.choose the paths that lead him to the changeshe needs to make to get his life on track.

Great Australian drama that has not been given the acalades it deserves.

A time in the life of a Real Estate Agent, currently unsuccessful in sales, relationships with son and ex-wife ("This divorce isn't working for me.") and life seen from Real Estate Agent's views and phraseology. This and several exchanges give a comedic slant to the film that the characters are unaware of, or perhaps only vaguely aware of, but there is also poignancy as a friend leads him into a second chance at life.

The balance of subtle humour and poignancy kept me watching.

A beautiful touching film on several levels. Superb acting. Anthony LaPaglia, Julia Blake are totally engaging with the identifiable characters they portray. The humour laid back and dry due in part to the writing and the contributions I think of John Clark in the supporting cast, who as one review says on this site, just about steals every scene he is in. Set in Adelaide. The camera work adds much to the story telling. A fine example of Australian film making and story telling. Watched it on SBS October 2021. Time well spent.

Set in the suburbs of Adelaide. La Paglia plays his part perfectly. As he has all the movies I've seen him in. His interactions with the characters of John Clarke, and Justine Clarke, were a treat to watch. We love the realism of day to day people going about their business. With substance, and something we can relate to. Was enjoyed by a group of us in various ages 13, 23, 35, 50, 64, 71, 86 y.o.

It's very classic, sombre, a little Aussie wit and charm.

Would like to see more movies with Anthony La Paglia and Justine Clarke. Plus, other members if this cast, work together.

Good to see La Paglia on home soil too.

10/10 with 5 stars from us.

I stumbled upon this wonderful film (IMDB 6.1, seriously?) looking for an Australian movie on the library streaming service Kanopy. It's so good that I'm going to watch it again even though Kanopy only allows 4 movie viewings per month. It's worth it. Don't miss it.