If you don’t live in Australia and have no idea who Paul Kelly is, then the 21st of December being “gravy day” will mean bugger all to you. I’m not convinced it means much to most Australians. It’s certainly not an event/day/phenomenon that’s ever been part of my cultural milieu. But Paul Kelly’s 1996 song, “How to Make Gravy”,* resonates with enough people that not only did they adapt it into a film, but they secured the services of everyone’s favourite Aussie, Hugo Weaving.**

The song takes the form of a letter from prison by Joe to his brother Dan. It’s the 21st of December, the last bells are ringing, and Joe thinks if he gets good behaviour, he will be out by July. The letter has other things to say, wistfully speculating about the brothers (his Uncles) coming down for Christmas and asking Dan to give his love to the kids, Angus, Frank and Dolly, and taking the piss out of Roger, their very annoying brother-in-law. Simmering underneath all this is Joe pleading to his brother not to get too close to Rita, Joe’s wife: 

“And later in the evening, I can just imagine,

You’ll put on Junior Marvin and push back the tables back

And you’ll dance with Rita, I know you really like her,

Just don’t hold her too close, oh brother please don’t stab me in the back. “

I’m sure this is the only song ever performed with a proper gravy recipe.

The movie draws faithfully on this rich material. It fills out the reason why Joe (Daniel Henshall) is in prison (he starts the movie a free man); while all the characters named in the letter are fleshed out in the film, most of the focus given to Angus (Jonah Wren Phillips), who doesn’t fare well with his Dad locked up. Agatha Rousselle, as Rita, is a terrific choice—and not just because I wasn’t expecting Rita to have a French accent. She and Henshall inform the emotional core of the movie, the wife, under great strain, remaining loyal to her imprisoned husband, even with the hunky, safe and comforting Dan (Brenton Thwaites) constantly in her presence.

The big star, though, is Hugo Weaving as Noel, a respected, feared old-timer who takes a liking (in a good way) to Dan. Noel—the name is a giveaway—is prison Santa, and Weaving plays the role with a gravitas, a depth of compassion, kindness and a twinkle in the eye. He’s magnificent in every scene, the person who gives Joe hope, suggesting he make his delicious gravy for the Christmas lunch. (They even source the wine).

What I truly appreciated about How to Make Gravy is that it isn’t overly sentimental or schmaltzy. Joe’s experience in prison is grim, and his family doesn’t fare much better. If not for Hugo Weaving, the bleakness would be unrelenting—not usually a feature of a Christmas movie. So when the schmaltz (or turkey fat) raises its head, those moments are well earned. You may end up in tears (I was very close).

I wasn’t expecting to like this film, let alone love it. But here we are.

*It’s a great ditty by the by.

**Sorry, Guy Pearce. Sam Neil is a Kiwi.