Right from the very first scene I knew this was going to be a special type of prison film. Mother nature in all her glory, a bird of prey elegantly gliding through the air in pursuit of its target, then bam! Trapped in a fence, cut to a prison van, a prisoner menacingly staring down a frightened young man, himself trapped, but a wise old bird of years and years of incarceration experience sidles up alongside the youngster, about to take him under his protective wing. The healing of the title begins, for man, boy and creatures, a metaphor heavy narrative that thankfully is beautifully written and portrayed.Directed by Craig Monahan, who also co-writes the screenplay with Alison Nisselle, this Australian film stars Hugo Weaving, Don Hany, Xavier Samuel and Mark Leonard Winter. Music is by David Hirschfelder and cinematography by Andrew Lesnie. Story follows a small group of prisoners working in a penal system approved rehabilitation of injured birds of prey programme. But outside of this harmonious circle lay differing problems, bully boy cons trying to muscle in with their poison, and then there is serrated family ties outside the prison gates that seem impossible to be healed...Throughout the pic there are broken beings, inmates, creatures and wardens, all in need of redemption or a restart in life. There's a lot going in the story as such, but it all makes for a gratifying whole because the makers have taken their time to build the characters. Tech credits are excellent, with the performances of the lead actors leading from the front. Weaving giving high end professionalism as the emotionally troubled main guard is something of a given, while Samuel (The Loved Ones) looks like he is about to build himself a worthwhile career.The film, however, in human form belongs to Hany, who gets the plum role of Iranian Viktor Khadem, the old lag who is the centre of the story. His accent sometimes sounds more South African than Iranian, but his ability to say so much with pained visual ticks and a becalmed delivery of crucial dialogue really cements the heart of the story's worth.Elsewhere, Lesnie's wide angled photography does justice to the surroundings when the story goes outside of the prison walls into the outback, and of course the grace of the birds is given appropriate splendour. Which leads to bird trainer Andrew Payne, who along with editor Suresh Ayya, deserves a mighty pat on the back for ensuring that Healing is beating a true heart from all standpoints. This is a lovely film waiting to be discovered by grown ups who are able to get involved with the thematic beats of the story and accept its deliberate pacing in the process. 8/10

We keep hearing that the Australian film industry is in the doldrums.... Well, "Healing" will restore your faith in its health. Excellent cinematography, good music, a good script and some really fine performances, particularly from the three male leads, Hugo Weaving, Don Hany and Xavier Samuel. But every performance in this film is good, and Jane Menelaus is so convincing as the Sanctuary's Raptor Expert that one could believe that is her day job. And Yasmine the wedge-tailed eagle, plus some very cute owls, nearly steal the show. Another star of the show is atmospheric shots of the beautiful scenery.The movie takes a leisurely pace, but this is absolutely fitting to parallel the slow rate of healing for all of these damaged animal and human characters. It also reflects the slow routine of the prisoners' lives.Some critics have called this film too predictable in its outcome, but if things come out well for the characters we care about, what's wrong with that? It's nice to have that happen occasionally!Definitely the highlight Australian film of the year for me!

Being a member of Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust in New Zealand and having visited Healsville Raptor Sanctuary in Melbourne Australia, I was always going to be a avid fan of the movie. What I was not expecting was the great story that went with the amazing photography and incredible acting. It's been a long time since a story based on real events has been brought to the big screen with such sensitivity. The Birds and the incredible photography were a credit to their handlers and trainers and the photographers. A must see movie for anyone with a love of birds of prey and for anybody who enjoys a movie without all the fancy stuff that still leaves you feeling great when you leave the theaterWell done to all concerned.

Three friends and I went to see Healing yesterday and we all walked out feeling that this was one of the very best movies we've seen in a long time and we're wondering WHY isn't this movie being shouted about from the rooftops??? Until stumbling upon it whilst looking for info on another movie, I hadn't heard a thing about it. The cinematography is beautiful, the writing wonderful and all the actors fabulous - Don Hany is outstanding and I think overseas may beckon him after this.Jane Menelaus is so comfortable and convincing with the birds that I can't believe she doesn't do this for a living. I honestly can't find a fault with this movie. It takes the time to build the characters and it's so refreshing not to be bashed over the head with 'over the top evil villains'. The cinematography stunningly caught the absolute essence of the Aussie outback and the birds. I can't wait to go and see it again and introduce some other friends to this wonderful movie.