Housekeeping for Beginners at Luna

Džada Selim (as Mia) and Anamaria Marinca (as Dita), Housekeeping for Beginners
Photo Credit: Maslow Entertainment

The trailer for the movie Housekeeping for Beginners caught my attention – the life and times of a blended family living in Northern Macedonia. It sounded interesting.

Stories about blended families that come to mind include the two Korean movies Shoplifters and Broker by Director / Writer Kore-eda Hirokazu, both of which I have enjoyed in the past.

In Housekeeping for Beginners, the story revolves around the couple Dita (Anamaria Marinca) and Suada (Alina Serban) – with Suada passing from terminal cancer and leaving Dita to care for Suada's kids. Dita never wanted to be a mother and she is left looking after her girlfriend’s two daughters whilst confronting immense grief.

The story unfolds with lots of highs and lows as this newly formed blended family somehow gets it together.

Director Goran Stolevski's style is gritty and action paced with the opening scenes of the film throbbing with catchy dance music. His style is distinctive and it has parallels to his award winning movie “Of An Age” that is set in Melbourne.

If you like sugar coated pretty movies, then this one won’t be for you.

Whilst being gritty and violent, in the same breath, the movie is also heartfelt and poignant – as the family valiantly tries to keep it together against all odds. Each character in the movie is challenged to confront their own vulnerabilities while dealing with their challenging circumstances.

In addition to its drama filled action, there are also some surprisingly good laughs along the way – the movie made me laugh and cry and all up it was a moving but hard hitting story.

Director Stolevski has a unique energy and style – he manages to unearth the very rawness of what his characters are facing and plants you there right with them.

Audience goers who like a good gritty drama with an interesting story line about a unique blended family will enjoy this latest movie from Goran Stolevski.

It opens Thursday 9 May at Luna Palace Cinemas.

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