‘Rams’ is not only an entertaining movie but also very visually appealing. If you’re curious about the locations where the movie was filmed, search no further. 2020 Australian film ‘Rams’ was inspired by the Icelandic film Rams from 2015. Australian ‘Rams’ is a comedy-drama film featuring Sam Neill as Colin and Michael Caton as Les. Colin and Les are brothers who grew up with their differences. Later due to circumstances, the brothers will need to come together to solve the situation. Besides Sam Neill and Michael Caton, other cast members include Miranda Richardson as Kat, Wayne Blair as Lionel, and Asher Keddie as Angela.
The dramedy is written by Jules Duncan and directed by Jeremy Sims. The Grímur Hákonarson-directed Icelandic ‘Rams’ or ‘Hrutar’ was screened at several film festivals like the International Toronto Film Festival in 2015 and the Cannes Film Festival in 2015. The film won Un Certain Regard in 2015 Cannes as well. Similarly, 2020 ‘Rams’ was first screened at the Cinefest OZ Film Festival as the opening film in August 2020 before releasing in October 2020. In Australia alone, the film has made a total of $3,624,786 and earned about $4,376,781 worldwide. Later, ‘Rams’ was nominated several times for the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards in 2020 and 2021.
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Where is ‘Rams’ Filmed?
Though ‘Rams’ is a remake of ‘Hrutar’, Jeremy Sims, the director, did not want it to be a scene-by-scene copy. After getting permission from the producer of ‘Hrutar’, they all agreed that they’d try a different style to retell the story. While choosing the setting, they wanted it to be a warm-toned area in contrast to the Icelandic cold tones. The film was shot from 1st October 2018 onwards, two years before it came out.
‘Rams’ was mainly shot in Mount Barker and Porongurup. Mount Barker is a town on the Albany Highway of Western Australia, located at a distance of only five kilometers from the town center. Whereas Porongurup is a village near Mount Barker, which is also known as a national park. Photographer Ian Brodie explains the way he planned out the shooting of a film tourism guide afterward.
In Porongurup, Brodie was eyeing the stalls and Tearooms. He was fascinated by the “geographical features” that the hills had to offer. Mount Barker impressed him, “Those places should be proud of where they are and what they offer,” Brodie said. He wanted to expose the beautiful hills to more people through his work which he later succeeded in. Both Steve Arnold, cinematographer of Rams, and Ian Brodie have done justice to the Australian landmark.
How Was ‘Rams’ Received?
Film critics have not been much harsh while reviewing ‘Rams’. The movie received 91% rotten tomatoes, whereas IMDb rated it only 6.1 in 10. The film talks about the importance of familial bonds. Featuring two brothers who are technically at war and about to lose their prized livelihood. The film’s earthy tones go well with the main theme of the film. Needless to say, the scriptwriting has made this film flow naturally. Instead of unnecessary comedic punchlines and dramatic dialogues, the unfinished and stuttering sentences give more life to the film.
Jeremy Sims said in an interview how he implemented the European idea of a son inheriting from his father. He wanted to show a brotherly relationship that doesn’t seem much foreign to the viewers. The conflicts between brothers and fighting to claim inheritance seem like a plot used in many mainstream films. But it doesn’t take the shine from ‘Rams’ at all.
Sims wanted to make something that could reach a broader audience. He admitted that he did not want to make films that nobody would watch. Instead, he wished to make a film that “try to be beautiful, and subtle, and real”. Finally, ‘Rams’ made his wish come true.
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