Compo * (1989, Jeremy Stanford, Bruce Kerr, Christopher Barry, Elizabeth Crockett) – Classic Movie Review 10,985

Australian actor Jeremy Stanford.

Producer-director Nigel Buesst’s 1989 Australian low-budget independent film Compo is a well-meaning if rather dreary satirical comedy-drama from Down Under about office bureaucracy and romance. It is based on the play Claim No. Z84 by Abe Pogos.

Jeremy Stanford stars as Paul, who has a dull job at the State Compensation Board, which is made duller still by his officious boss David (Bruce Kerr) – and even an affair with the lovely Gina (Elizabeth Crockett) can’t improve his humour.

Unfortunately, though there are some amusing gags and appealing characters, as well as plenty of good intentions, not enough laughs and insufficient drama or satire come out of Abe Pogos’s soapy, largely unpersuasive script, Buesst’s direction and the performances.

Also in the cast are Christopher Barry, Rowan Woods, Cliff Neate and Peter Hosking.

Buesst made it while running the St Kilda Film Festival, Melbourne, Victoria.

The budget was A$150,000. It runs 83 minutes.

It was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1989 and was nominated for the 1989 Australian Film Institute award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Compo is directed by Nigel Buesst, runs 83 minutes, is made by Sunrise Pictures Company, is written by Abe Pogos, based on the play Claim No. Z84 by Abe Pogos, is shot by Vladimir Osherov, is produced by Nigel Buesst and is scored by Iain Mott.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,985

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