Saturday, February 1, 2014

Wish You Were Here

Two sisters (Felicity Price and Teresa Palmer) vacationing in Cambodia, one with her husband (Joel Edgerton), the other with her new boyfriend (Antony Starr) in the country for business, enjoy the beaches and nightlife, in addition to some of the local designer drugs before returning to Sydney without their new acquaintance. As the remaining members of the party become involved with the official inquest, it comes to light that the younger sister slept with her brother-in-law during the stay, adding tension to her older, pregnant sibling's already strained marriage. The Aussie production Wish You Were Here feels like an extended episode of mystery theater and does not always benefit from its often murky flashback structure. It is, however, abetted by its actors and strong characterizations, the family dynamics imposed upon the plot, and its expected though still resounding resolution. I also appreciated how the picture was able to succeed on its own strengths and did not have to rely on stylistics, graphic violence, or excess vulgarities for effect.