Griff the Invisible

Griff the Invisible is an unusual but uplifting Australian film about the validation of difference that has a big heart and a big imagination. 

This is the story of Griff (Ryan Kwanten), a shy, introverted guy who is bullied in his workplace. By night, however, he becomes a superhero protecting the streets of his neighbourhood. When Griff decides to enact his revenge on his work tormenter through the use of invisibility suits, his world is turned upside down when he is introduced to Melody (Maeve Dermody), an experimentalist (she tests things, theories and stuff) who shares Griff’s passion for the impossible. Essentially the film is a romance between the two in a world that doesn't quite accept them but then doesn't completely reject them either.

Writer and director Leon Ford presents his plot in a subtle, quirky way that at times parallels that of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amelie (Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, 2001). Sometimes Australian cinema can fall into the trap of trying too hard to be American and we haven’t been able to pull it off. Leon steers clear of the Hollywood Blockbuster genre other superhero movies embrace and turns it on its head, giving this genre an unconventional angle and it’s really refreshing to see. This is not Kick-Ass (Matthew Vaughn 2010) or Spider-Man (Sam Raimi 2002) and it doesn’t try to be. It works so well because it doesn't try to be anything it’s not.

The actors give authentic performances and really bring these awkward but loveable characters to life. The two leads have a genuine honesty in their roles and you get completely pulled into their strange world to the point where you don't know what's real and what's not. Also, they are really well supported, particularly by Patrick Brammall who plays Griff’s brother, Tim. He has a goofy confidence that is a perfect contrast to the sociophobic Griff.

The editing in this film works really well and accentuates the awkward but also the fantasy elements of the film that Kwanten and Dermody choose to immerse themselves in. The film also uses colour to great effect. The three primary colours, blue, yellow and red, are prominent throughout and help to emphasise the binary opposition that the film presents between fantasy and reality. One drawback to this film is that at times you feel alienated from the fantasy elements of the film. You are invited to watch but not invited to join. It also follows a predictable and familiar plotline but it is the concept that makes this film so unique and the original way it is presented.

This is one Australian film that should not go unnoticed. It is such a rare film and a surprisingly beautiful one.