Independent film 'Frank And Frank' (or 'The Valley And The Walrus: Ruminations On The Mystery From Soup To Nuts') is a new story focused on two men of the same name but very different origins, thrown together by circumstance. . . Or fate.
Biblical references and a powerful narration by one of the titular Franks opens the film’s trailer. What follows boasts a film with a rich tapestry of interwoven themes and messages, nods to the human condition, disparity in social nature, and so much more; all of that easy to deduce from a trailer just shy of two minutes. “Wait until you see the movie,” 'Frank And Frank' Writer, Director, and Producer Adam Morris says.
As to putting what the film is about in his own words, and why the poignant biblical references in his trailer, Adam doesn’t really know where to start. And an explanation for that unusually presented and lengthy title? No, really, he’s stumped.
“Because of the budget level we’re working with, we rely heavy on character,” Adam says after quiet consideration. “We have to pack everything into these two huge characters.”
“We can’t do a cliché film at all because it won’t hold up – which is really good because it means we have to put out there that, hopefully, no one has ever seen it.”
Moving away from traditional filmmaking paradigms was more a necessity than it was a conscious spark of inspiration. “We’re cursed and blessed with such a small budget that all we have is the script and our [actors’] performance of the script.”
The idea behind 'Frank And Frank' stemmed from Adam’s musings on the idea of how differently individuals can change over time. “If you meet someone, how different you would have been ten years ago,” Adam says. “I thought it would be interesting that these two Franks might actually be the same person separated through time, [then] put the two characters together to meet each other and interact with each other.”
“Frank One [Myles Pollard] is in a very traditional marriage but it’s kind of collapsing – Frank Two [Trevor Jamieson] is five or seven years past the traditional marriage and lives a very unconventional life – and they could be the same human.
“It’s interesting for those two versions of the same person to meet as different characters – you ultimate are a different character. I don’t expect to be who I am now in five or ten years. Even though the illusion is you are, you’re not.”
In discovering their similarities of character and person, 'Frank And Frank' doesn’t necessarily see both men jump hurdles throughout the film or experience friction between them before they reach an understanding. “They don’t know they could be versions of the same person, as much as I don’t know they’re versions of the same person,” Adam says. “I suppose Frank Two acts like a healing character to Frank One, teaching him without teaching him; the whole filmmaking approach was a very dour approach.”
“It’s the whole people coming into your life when you need them and you’re ready to learn from them.”
'Frank And Frank' hits cinemas in July. It will make its world premiere at the 2023 Revelation Perth International Film Festival.
