Director : Robert Connolly
Release Year : 2020
Rating : 8.5/10
The Dry is a murder mystery set in a small town Kiewarra in regional Australia that’s been going through a drought since last 324 days.
The story revolves around Aaron who is an AFP investigating what initially looks like a murder and suicide of his childhood friend, Luke. Apparently Luke killed his wife Karen and his son Billy leaving behind Charlette. However, when Aaron along with Greg raco (local sargent) starts investigating he suspects other people maybe involved in the murders. He suspects Grant Dow or Jamie Sullivan has something to do with the murders.
Aaron, Luke, Gretchen and Ellie were friends during their teenage years. Aaron gets reminded of Ellie over and over again by photographs he sees, places he visits and people he meets. Grant and Mal (Ellie’s father) continuous harassing Aaron, reminding him of Ellie’s death. Aarons reminiscences of Ellie are full of water and wild but both Ellie and water only exists in Aaron’s memory, in reality there is only a drought that’s been raging for almost a year and a town that’s been longing for rain. The drought changes the town in such a way that vehicles leave a long trail of dust behind them. People of the town are rough. They are farmers and tradesman. Apparently shooting rabbits is a thing in the town and people use it as an excuse.
Aaron is determine to solve the mystery behind these murders and he is left with so many reason so solve them. For one, he can bring justice to both Luke and Ellie, redeeming himself and Luke. He can bring peace to Luke’s grief stricken family and save them from harassment.
As we move forward in the drought and we hear that there was fire near Karoonda it almost feels like an emergency or a warning that things can go south anytime. Aaron bonds with Gretchen and two tries to come closer…
This film is both nostalgic and scenic, and it explores regional Australia. It looks for excuses to tell us a tale of a small town and it’s people. It’s quite intelligently put together between past and present and it feels quite satisfactory when it comes to an end. Overall, it’s a story well told.