I Rejected 10-12 Offers – I Didn’t Want a Film Adaptation

When Raimond Gaita released Romulus, My Father in 1998, his account of his father’s life impacted Australia deeply. The book stemmed from the eulogy he delivered at his father’s funeral and portrayed the poignant story of his childhood in Frogmore, Victoria, during the 1960s. The narrative followed his parents, who fled postwar Europe, and highlighted the challenges they faced. Gaita’s mother, Christina, struggled with manic depression and left her family to start a new life, leaving young Raimond and his father, Romulus, to cope with immense hardships.

Actor Richard Roxburgh was given a copy of Romulus, My Father by his sister and felt a burning desire to adapt it into a film. His sister anticipated his reaction, knowing how the poignant story would resonate with him.

Roxburgh’s film adaptation, starring Eric Bana, Franka Potente, and a then 10-year-old Kodi Smit-McPhee, was a remarkable achievement for its modest scale. The movie grossed $2.5m at the Australian box office and won big at the 2007 Australian Film Institute awards, taking home best film, best actor for Bana, and best young actor for Smit-McPhee. Despite its success, it faded from public consciousness until a 4K restoration brought it back at this year’s Melbourne international film festival.

Raimond Gaita was initially reluctant to sell the rights for an adaptation. He feared that the film might fail to accurately and respectfully portray mental illness and the nuanced suffering of the individuals involved. Gaita received numerous offers but persistently declined them until Richard Roxburgh, a young actor turned aspiring director, approached him. Despite Roxburgh’s lack of directorial experience, Gaita was eventually persuaded by his genuine love for the story and agreed to let him attempt a screenplay.

Roxburgh faced a daunting challenge in adapting the complex autobiographical narrative. After years of frustration and many rewrites, they found the right screenwriter in Nick Drake, who brought a poet’s sensibility to the task. Drake’s deep understanding of the story, crystallized during a visit to Frogmore, ultimately shaped the screenplay into one that Gaita could endorse.

Kodi Smit-McPhee, who played young Raimond, connected profoundly with the role even before his audition. His father took him to the remnants of Raimond and Romulus’ home, immersing him in the narrative. This emotional grounding lent depth and authenticity to his performance, capturing the attention of the filmmakers after they had reviewed numerous tapes from other young actors.

Roxburgh spent considerable time ensuring that Eric Bana, who played Romulus, and Smit-McPhee bonded and understood their characters deeply. The director found the role of guiding the film’s direction immensely stressful, yet he never doubted his commitment to preserving the purity of the story.

Raimond Gaita chose not to visit the film set but attended the wrap party, where he and Smit-McPhee shared an emotional connection over the intense experience of portraying his life. This bond left a lasting impact on both of them.

The film had a powerful effect on those involved and those who viewed it. Gaita remembers a particularly emotional private screening with his wife, and Smit-McPhee reflects on how the film shaped his early career in a positive, nurturing environment.

Roxburgh, who recently watched the remastered version, expressed pride in the film. He appreciated the restored version for retaining the integrity and quiet intensity of the original. Reflecting on the importance of preserving Australian cinema, Roxburgh hopes for a future where Australian films are curated and revered as meticulously as European films, ensuring stories like Romulus, My Father remain vibrant and accessible to future audiences.

Source: The Guardian