Limbo (2023 film)

Limbo is a 2023 Australian independent mystery-crime film directed by Ivan Sen and starring Simon Baker, Rob Collins, Natasha Wanganeen and Nicholas Hope.[1] The film had its world premiere in competition at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, on 23 February 2023, where it competed for Golden Bear.[2]

Limbo
Official poster
Directed byIvan Sen
Written byIvan Sen
Produced by
  • Ivan Sen
  • Elaine Crombie
  • Rachel Higgins
  • David Jowsey
  • Greg Simpkin
Starring
CinematographyIvan Sen
Edited byIvan Sen
Music byIvan Sen
Production
companies
Distributed byDark Matter Distribution
Release date
  • February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23) (Berlinale)
Running time
109 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

In a small Australian outback town Travis Hurley, a detective, comes to investigate a 20-year-old unsolved homicide of an Aboriginal woman. Travis discovers a collection of unpleasant truths, highlighting the intricacies of loss and injustice faced by Aboriginal Australians.

Cast

Production

Limbo was produced by Bunya Productions and Windalong Films, with the support of Screen Queensland, South Australian Film Corporation, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.[3][1][4]

Filming began on 19 August 2022 at Coober Pedy in South Australia.[1][4] The film was shot in black and white, partly for technical reasons, but mainly because of the large expanses of white ground at Coober Pedy, which provide a dramatic backdrop. Sen wrote the script based on his experience of the town, with its underground dwellings and unusual culture.[5]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on 23 February 2023.[6]

It premieres in Australian cinemas on 18 May 2023.[5]

Reception

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 89% based on 9 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10.[7] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100 based on 5 reviews, indicating "Generally Favorable Reviews".[8]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian rated the film with 4 stars out of 5 and wrote, "It is a tough, muscular film with the grit of crime, but a heartbeat of compassion."[9] David Rooney for The Hollywood Reporter stating that the film is "A riveting, multilayered genre piece", concluded writing, "With its strikingly cinematic locations and Sen’s expressive use of the widescreen frame, Limbo also sneaks up on you, leaving a haunting impression."[10] Guy Lodge reviewing at Berlin Film Festival, for Variety wrote, "This is outback noir — oblique, secretive and as hard-boiled as the ground is hard-baked — and Sen wears it well."[11] Wendy Ide for ScreenDaily wrote in review that the film is "a distinctive work, both visually – the stark black and white photography accentuates the uncanny, almost lunar pockmarks on this scarred terrain – and in terms of its intriguingly detached outback noir storytelling."[12]

Accolades
Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival 16–26 February 2023 Golden Bear Limbo Nominated [13]

References
  1. Kelly, Vivienne (19 August 2022). "'Limbo' Starring Simon Baker Starts Filming in South Australia". Variety. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  2. Rosser, Michael (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival reveals 2023 competition line-up". Screen Daily. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  3. "Production Underway on Ivan Sen's Latest Desert Noir Limbo Starring Simon Baker". Screen Queensland. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  4. "Ivan Sen's desert noir Limbo underway in Coober Pedy starring Simon Baker". South Australian Film Corporation. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  5. Debelle, Penelope (12 May 2023). "Coober Pedy provides a dramatic backdrop for new film Limbo". InDaily. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  6. Abbatescianni, Davide (23 January 2023). "The Berlinale announces its Competition and Encounters titles, plus Ukraine- and Iran-focused solidarity initiatives". Cineuropa. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  7. "Limbo (Crime/Drama 2023)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  8. "Limbo". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  9. Bradshaw, Peter (23 February 2023). "Limbo review – hardbitten outback noir with a compassionate heart". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  10. Rooney, David (23 February 2023). "'Limbo' Review: Simon Baker Is Superb as a Jaded Detective in Ivan Sen's Visually Striking Outback Procedural". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  11. Lodge, Guy (23 February 2023). "'Limbo' Review: Simon Baker Opens a Cold Case and Finds Searing Racial Tension in a Starkly Atmospheric Outback Noir". Variety. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  12. Ide, Wendy (24 February 2023). "'Limbo': Berlin Review". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  13. Ramachandran, Naman; Vivarelli, Nick (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival Reveals Competition Lineup (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
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