Lucky Miles, the Australian comedy which won the Audience Award for Best Film at the Sydney Film Festival has been awarded the prestigious Special Jury Prize at the Czech Republic‘s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Based on a collection of true stories, and directed by first time filmmaker, Michael James Rowland, Lucky Miles is a bittersweet comedy about distance, difference and dud maps.
Sneak previews of Lucky Miles will take place in cinemas across Australia this weekend, before it releases nationally on July 19.
In Lucky Miles an Indonesian fishing boat abandons Iraqi and Cambodian refugees in a remote part of the Western Australia. Whilst most are quickly caught by officials, three men with nothing in common but their misfortune and determination escape arrest and begin an epic journey into the heart of Australia. Pursued by an army reservist unit, our three heroes wander deeper into the desert, desperately searching for civilization amongst the stones of the Pilbara.
Despite such seemingly serious subject matter, critics and festival audiences have invariably praised the film as a comedy:
‘A real-crowd pleaser, that deserves a wide audience….a rollicking adventure.’
4 Stars
Michael Adams, Empire Magazine
‘a very funny buddy flick…’
Jo Chichester, Vogue Australia
‘With a winning streak of wry humor and a proudly humanist outlook, "Lucky Miles" throws refugees, people smugglers and border-patrol soldiers into the outback and emerges with entertaining and gently thought-provoking results.’ Richard Kuipers, Variety
‘A joyous film…Despite its hot-button subject matter, the approach from first time writer-director Michael James Rowland always remains surprisingly gentle and amiable.’ Julian Shaw, FILMINK
Lucky Miles is foremost a buddy movie in the proud tradition of the three-guys-stuck-out-on-a-limb genre. Think Down by Law, O Brother, Where art Thou? and Three Kings. Its universal theme, strong global characters, exotic setting and quixotic charm will enchant audiences across Australia. But like the Oscar-winning No Man’s Land, it also deals with inherently political material in an accessible, entertaining and slightly absurdist fashion. It reduces the politics to the personal, providing insight and engagement through the defiance and humanity of its characters.
Sneak previews of Lucky Miles will take place July 13 – 15, before it releases in cinemas nationally on July 19.
[release from Dendy Films]