Despite his ailing health, Cass leaves the big smoke of Sydney, hitting the road for his long-forsaken childhood home of Bundaberg in regional Queensland. Cass’ memories and traumas are reignited as he rediscovers Bundaberg, opening his heart to a spiritual exploration amongst the community. This journey finds him being born again by Baptist Christians and culminates in experimental therapy from new age Buddhists.

With an unprecedented worker shortage in the Bundaberg area, an old mate reaches out to Cass, looking for help to tap into natural springwater on his farm. The deeper Cass digs into the soil he was born upon, the deeper his connection to his past becomes.

On this unwitting journey of self-discovery, Cass crosses paths with a local fish and chip shop worker, Andrew. Andrew is a second generation Chinese Australian who is suddenly confronted with the death of his father. Cass and Andrew’s stories of loss intertwine, seeing them exchange emotional comfort during their most turbulent times.

The story is set against the rhythmic backdrop of manual work in the Bundaberg region, from farms to pubs to recycling centres to cleaners to factories, highlighting the importance of the workers that keep the national economy moving.

Flathead is a 4K hybrid feature that combines fiction with real events to reveal a part of modern Australian culture rarely represented in cinema.

Director:
Jaydon Martin

Producer:
Patrick McCabe

Executive Producers:
Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Chloé Brugalé

Screenwriters:
Jaydon Martin

Cinematographer:
Brodie Poole

Editor:
Brodie Poole

Sound Designer:
Lachlan Harris

Music:
Angharad Van Rijswijk

Production Companies:
Factotum Pictures / Portmanteau Pictures

Duration:
89 mins