On Given Time

A Screen Australia, Screen Nsw presentation from the Frontline Films production, in colaboration with Australian Broadcasting Corp. (Worldwide sales: Frontline Films, Wilsons Creek.) Produced by David Bradbury. Executive producer, Jeni McMahon. Directed by David Bradbury. Put together by Bradbury, Mike Rubbo.With: Paul Cox, David Wenham, Gosia Dobrowolska, Philip Adams, Bob Ellis, Julia Blake, Terry Norris, Tony Llewllyn-Manley, David Stratton, John Clarke, Chris Haywood, Aden Youthful, Wendy Hughes, Bob Manley. Narrator: David Wenham.A premature eulogy becomes an engaging celebration of Euro-flavored, Oz-based vet auteur Paul Cox in "On Given Time." Helmed by Oscar-nominated documentarian David Bradbury ("Frontline," "Nicaragua: No Parasan"), pic captures both charmer as well as the curmudgeon behind the digital camera while representing Cox's watch for liver transplant. Multiple collaborators testify for the film-maker's genius, while clips of other nutritional foods from "Guy of Flowers" to "Innocence" catch the arty essence of his work. An all-natural setup for Cox retrospectives or Oz sidebars, the docu is guaranteed fest-circuit berths. Pubcasters may even need a look. Pic begins getting a withered Cox writing a memoir to feed time because they waits for an additional person along with his rare blood stream type to die and donate their liver. Getting a frank, apparent-eyed calm about his cancer, the Nederlander-elevated septuagenarian helmer cuts a dignified figure while he reflects on his past and also the impending dying. Monitoring his subject's visits with a Melbourne hospital for treatment over several several days, Bradbury unobtrusively augments the medical waiting game with celebratory interviews. Loyal thesps and regular players, including Wendy Hughes, Chris Haywood and longtime muse Gosia Dobrowolska, all marvel within the collision of order and chaos that characterizes Cox's shoots. Reminiscences focus much more about the man rather than on his work, though high-quality productions within the director's eighties heyday, including searing film a clef "My First Wife," are prominent. An appetizing number of clips nails the emotional intensity, trippy experimentation and austere great factor about Cox's capital-A arthouse features. Docu can get beyond pure hagiography with affectionate glimpses of Cox's cantankerous side. The gist in the auteur's personality is made clear by his onetime producer Philip Adams ("Lonely Hearts"), who recalls the director spoke of "integrity" as if he was really the only individual that been there. Cox's sole large-budget film, "Molokai," featuring David Wenham (who narrates the docu) alongside Peter O'Toole and Kris Kristofferson, is overlooked just like a debacle destroyed by philistine producers. Nevertheless the docu also discloses the director's hypersensitivity to critique longtime Cox supporter and former Variety critic David Stratton relates the fiery response he got after filing a bad summary of "Salvation," while thesp Aden Youthful (who edited "Salvation") laughs about being physically attacked by Cox when the two stood a disagreement while keeping focused on 1994's "Exile." Bradbury's contemplative sights of Cox's Melbourne milieu capture the city's gritty appeal and effectively mimic the helmer's Euro-styled eye. A 60-minute tube version is ready for Oz broadcast, nevertheless the enjoyable 87-minute length already seems short.Camera (color, HD), Bradbury editors, Lindi Harrison, Andrew Arestides music, David Lewis art director, Allan Moore appear, Bradbury. Examined at Cinema 1, Chauvel Cinema, Paddington, Sydney, November. 23, 2011. In Queensland Film Festival.) Running time: 87 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com