Such a frustrating disappointment

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Much as some cannot understand how this film received a high rating I cannot understand how some have given this a low rating. The film was excellent. True it started with a lot of dis-jointed flash scenes of varying tenses and it did take a little while to get one's bearings. So much so that I did consider leaving it. How glad I was that I chose to persevere. After about 10 or 15 mins the whole thing became clear and from then on the film was riveting. It was gripping, emotionally provocative and real. Music was good and acting excellent but most of all the story was real and touching. It requires a small degree of concentration and is not something to be passively entertained by but notwithstanding this it is not complex or complicated and is easy enough to follow once your in. It's essence is its references to our own emotions which we will all see and relate to as the story explores the common manifestations of grief. Great film.

When we first meet Tom, we see a rude, selfish, out of control guy engaging in some pretty self destructive behaviour. Unsympathetic to the core, it's not until this unconventionally told story reveals more about him that we find out why he is this way. By the end of the film, your feelings about this guy will do a complete 180. You may even shed a tear or two.The way this film is constructed is either going to deter you, or capture you hook, line and sinker. I'm in the latter group. It rightly won an award for Best Editing at the 2011 Film Critics Circle of Australia. The Australian vocalist from Dead Can Dance, Lisa Gerrard, does most of the soundtrack which also scored awards. From a budget of 9 million we have a beautifully shot, artistic and emotional film, with strong acting by the leads. It takes an unconventional look at what it would be like to lose someone close, and the process of grief, especially for men, who are not known for their outward displays of emotion.Some of the transitions between scenes may seem a little contrived. I think the intention was to reveal the story in much in the same way that our memory works .. by association.It loses a point for a few rather silly scenes. Burning Man deserves a much bigger audience, especially outside Australia. Looking forward to Jonathan Teplitsky's next feature.

The emotions, the characters, and the story line is perfect. It really hit the spot. "Burning Man" the sound tracks gives the right fleeing at the right time. And the most impotent part in this movie is the camera scenes. They are changing to give us some thing to think.First it look very complicated crap, but when the movie rolling it shows the pattern which life can have. It also give us an idea about the man's inside view. even the characters which selected by the director is very perfect to the story. "Tom" character in the movie is looks like very angry and selfish man but when the film running it show us how soft he is and why he turns.. The actor gives all the expectations he can to elaborate the movie character.The end part (last scene)Tom's kid asking about the lunch and the answer "lets make a pizza" was the most outstanding part of this movie.(The story part is also perfect but I was look for those cinematography parts only) Rating 7/10 perfectMadx666

this is a great movie. One of the best portrayals I have seen of a man experiencing loss and grief. The burn he is acting and the way it is expressed is portrayed in a realistic way. Men can grieve in the arms of others and to the soft well intentioned actions and ministrations of those around them. I find most men do work through the issues with space to brew and rage, talk is important but space to work it out is better.Sitting on the kitchen floor with a bottle of red wine at 2 in the morning nutting it out with someone who cares is where the healing starts. A real visceral portrayal...thank God the only therapist in sight was an ex-shag. The redemption of this guys sad state is due to something greater then himself, his son and the need to carry on. OK, there are a few tears to be had.