Mallboy

His recreation is modelled on that of his parents. He is a feral child of feral parents. Mum smokes ciggies, drags on the bong and snorts coke. Dad is out of jail, but hasn't come home yet, living instead with 'Aunty Pam' in a house that is literally floor to ceiling stacks of consumables of questionable provenance.

Their mother has trained them well -- they lie to the social worker, they shop lift and they respond with violence and abuse at the slightest provocation.

Shaun and his friends are growing imitations of their parents. They steal marijuana from the hidden crop of one of their mothers, then sell it at the mall. They shop lift, they sniff glue, and they are moving into that other great opiate: sex.

Another story of the sub-working class (see also Praise), Mallboy is written and directed by Vincent Giarrusso who converted a failed poem inspired by his own youth work experiences into an acclaimed screenplay. It takes place over three days during which Shaun must decide whether to face his incarceration, or fall deeper into his parent's culture. The fate of his sisters is not examined, and the outcome of the pregnancy is nothing against his decision. Perhaps Shaun will escape, but his sisters are working on the next generation of users and abusers.

Sidebar This month has been a showcase for cast members of ABC TV's Sea Change with more than one player appearing in both Mallboy and The Dish.