By Susan Polk

Directed by: Ana Kokkinos

Starring: Elena Mandalis, Dora Kaskanis, Maude Davey

Stars February * at Kino Cinemas

Rating: ***

Melbourne director/screenwriter Ana Kokkinos' second film will most likely allow her to take a place among in the top ranks of rising Australian filmmakers. Though only an hour in length, Only the Brave is an engrossing, moving film that reveals more to the viewer than many films that run twice as long and say half as much.

Shot in the grimy shadow of Melbourne's industrial suburbs, the film's setting reflects the darkened personalities of it's characters who have been damaged by years of subtle poisons drifting down and settling upon their emotions as well as their homes and schoolyards.

The film revolves around Alex (Elena Mandalis), her eroding friendship with deeply disturbed Vicki (Dora Kaskanis) and the sexual awakening that dawns on Alex as she begins to accept her attraction to women.

Pulling apart the complex issues of sexuality and the psycology of social behavior is no easy feat, and the fact that Only the Brave manages to address each characters' individual motivations in such a short time is a testament to both Kokkinos and her cast of unknown actors.

Mandalis - who appears in every scene - is outstanding. She shifts easily from the hurt daughter who still yearns for her uncaring, absent mother to mindlessly destructive teenage vandal without losing a grip on Alex's ever-present sensitivity and intelligence.

Alex's realisation that Vicki's self-destructive behavior is bound to pull anyone who comes near her into a black hole marks the beginning of the changes in Alex, and as she pulls away from Vicki she finds herself drawn to her teacher Kate Groves (Maude Davey) who represents not only an escape from the filthy circumstances that surround her - Miss Groves also gives Alex a fantasy mother figure to fix upon, thereby intensifying her desire for the bisexual teacher.

Only the Brave is obviously not going to appeal to everyone - as violence, lesbianism and teenage angst do not make for a light evening at the movies. But it must be said that the film is infused with a sense of the strength of the human spirit, and although not all of the characters meet a happy end, there is an inherent realistic quality about Only the Brave that will leave a lingering impression on the psyche long after the lights come up.