A doco that follows the journey of two Finnish backpackers subject to v. v. v. disgusting abuse / sexism at a notorious pub in the West Australian outback has everyone talking days before its premiere at the Sydney Film Festival on Friday.
Filmmaker Pete Gleeson‘s controversial ‘Hotel Coolgardie’ shines a light of the disturbing culture of Coolgardie drinking hole Denver City Hotel, where the arrival of a new pair of foreign female backpackers to work the only bar in town every three months “is a keenly anticipated event” by local patrons – mostly male – who openly refer to them as “fresh meat”.
Finnish pals and former pub employees Lina and Steph were attracted by the idea of earning some coin while enjoying an authentic outback experience, but quickly found themselves “prey to the madness and malaise of an environment as claustrophobic as it is isolated,” according to the film’s synopsis.
“The visitors must navigate relationships beset with drunkenness and impunity, misguided sexual advances… as they discover that meeting expectations as barmaids in this part of the world requires more than just serving drinks.”
That’s no exaggeration: the film’s trailer shows a high-vis wearing bloke calling the girls “fresh meat” as a blackboard outside the pub proclaims “New girls tonite!!!”.
One particularly heinous patron propositions Lina for sex on camera while his mate laughs loudly, impervious to the film crew:
“If we have sex it will be bad, but it will be very quick so that won’t be a problem.”
*gags forever*
Check out the trailer:
Gleeson first came across the hotel 15 years ago, when he was passing through town and happened to witness a “changeover’ – the period when a new pair of female bartenders arrives to replace the departing ones.
He got to know the former owner, a dude called Coffey, and the idea for the doco was born – but current manager Debbie Ovens has said the practice of hiring ‘fresh’ bartenders was halted under her management. Thank fuck.
You can check out Hotel Coolgardie at the Sydney Film Festival, this Friday night. Get yo’ tix HERE.
Photo: Supplied.
