Pawno Review: Raw examination of life

Pawno is a directorial debut by Paul Ireland, rooted in specific metropolitan setting of Melbourne, around the pawn shop referenced in the title. The ensemble comedy drama follows a day in the life of fourteen characters, yet without any protagonist. Paul Ireland could hardly be termed a newbie, having been part of the British and Australian film and television industries for some 20 years. But his debut film, definitely marks a fresh departure for the actor, even though the story's loosely connected structure, or lack there of, could be interpreted as amateur.

Without giving away too much of the story, Pawno is a raw examination of life in often misrepresented characters in Australian film. We get into the pawnshop led by thick-skinned Les (John Brumpton) and his helper Danny (Damian Hill). Along with them we meet all the broken figures selling their stuff for different reasons. But what is important to notice are the silent hours in the meantime, waiting, solving crosswords. Preparing tea for a “bold and beautiful” friend (Tony Rickards) who visits the pawnshop everyday just to have a nice conversation, dreaming of a girl working in the book store nearby – so delicate and inadequate to the surroundings.

Fortunately, Kate (Maeve Dermody) just broke her glasses and carries them to the pawnshop so Danny could fix them. On the way she passes two slackers, Carlo (Malcolm Kennard) and Pauly (Mark Coles Smith) who are spending whole days in the streets wandering here and there without any aim, collecting change and daydreaming. And so we get to know all the main characters of this simple district story. Going back and forth between pawnshop, street and book-store is the main line of the plot, in which we follow the day of our characters.

The Australian accent, which is sometimes hard to understand, perfectly sums the multicultural district in which the pawn shop is located. Pawno is uncomplicated and heart-warming, and uninterested in anything of real importance. It is not too sweet nor bitter, it does not exaggerate and does not discover nothing more than that life as it is.

Pawno is a film that has garnered much hype amongst the film world in Australia, but unfortunately, I cannot see why. It’s good on everyday Australianisms and laidback comedy but limited characterisation and unsubtle telegraphing don’t help this day-in-the-life drama with a hint of comedy.