The women face a horrendous torrent of sexist and racist remarks from the locals, as the drunks demonstrate their shaky understanding of geography and culture by assuming Lina and Stephs Finnish background means they dine solely on reindeer. When two Finnish girls take jobs in the town's only pub, they find themselves in a trial of endurance. one drinker asks the pair. Its us. Coolgardie GoldRush Motels. It was very much more intense than we anticipated, reflects Gleeson. Hotel Coolgardie is an ugly film, but a revealing one After being robbed in Bali, Finnish backpackers Stephie and Lina find themselves desperate for cash in Perth (never a good position to be in). Repeats of the Foxtel series Kalgoorlie Cops, filmed two years before Hotel Coolgardie, have also drawn criticism from Goldfields leaders and tourism officials. They're tossed aside like rubbish. Credit: Tori O'Connor. "All the drinking, all the swearing, a little bit overboard.". Amusing, disturbing, and thoroughly bizarre, this candid . PETE (OOS) . We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The big question is whether Hotel Coolgardie is a microcosm of broader Australian society. 59. The film is another setback for Goldfields leaders aiming to move beyond the region's notoriously blokey image. the plight of the outsider forced to adapt or face the consequences. The Miners Rest Motel. Hotel Coolgardie is currently screening in Australian cinemas. They've agreed to be the [] SEE MORE PROPERTIES. He said he understood the apprehension that some people who lived in Coolgardie may feel without having seen the film. Recently renovated. Radio 6PR, packs an EMOTIONAL WALLOP one of the most CAPTIVATING He recently told ABC News: We thought it might have been filmed 1012 years ago.. At the time the documentary was filmed, the owner would have an agency send two female foreign backpackers every three months to work there and Lina and Steph were the latest. Gleeson conceded his focus was on the moments that had the heaviest impact on the two backpackers. Whenever I dropped in youd be able to pick how long the girls had been there by the look on their face or how well they were coping, he explains. Lina and Stephie, the two Finnish backpackers followed in Hotel Coolgardie. Hotel Coolgardie. By continuing to use our site you are agreeing to our. At the motel, all rooms have a closet, a flat-screen TV, a private . When two Finnish girls take jobs in the town's pub, they find themselves in a trial of endurance, and soon realise that pouring pints is the least of their work. "Because if you look at the trailer, it depicts a fairly sleazy sort of atmosphere at some of the hotels of that era.". aybe we should have some sort of competition jelly wrestling or wet T-shirt, one patron suggests, referring tothe new arrivals and their predecessors. It is leaves a very bad taste at the end of a film in which violence never breaks out, but there are several moments when it feels on the cards. The people we were supposed to rely on were the ones who treated us the worst.. But unlike the dirt-baked 1971 masterpiece, Coolgardie residents depicted in the film can hardly be relegated to the realms of fiction. When I saw it, all those feelings came back I really wanted to go back to Coolgardie, to meet all the people once again and talk to them now, when I dont have to be scared of losing my job anymore.. it out there unconcerned with box office or public approval. Otago Daily Times, completely unexpected, COMPLETELY STUNNING. The Young Folks, borders on being FRIGHTENING, HILARIOUS and HEARTBREAKING all at once AB Reviews Best Of 2017, full of ANXIETY, COMEDY, FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, NAIL BITING TENSION and DESPERATE UNEASINESS The relationship between backpackers and the Australian outback is a popular subject for fictional horror film, but according to new documentaryHotelCoolgardiethe reality is almostas disturbing. Hotel Coolgardieis to bogans whatJawsis to sharks. "Everyone knows that the Goldfields is a pretty multi-faceted place, like anywhere.". Hospitality Kalgoorlie, SureStay Collection by Best Western. You're robbed on a tropical island, and instead of going home defeated you decide to stick it out, get a job for a few months and earn some cash so you can continue your travels. He says the program, one of several, had no involvement with the film, and due to being "heavily controlled" it was a roaring success. Sometimes amusing, often . While Lina is still in hospital, Stephie is told to pack their things and go. It becomes clear very quickly that their job is more than just pulling beers and managing a few loose units. It's Pete's way or the highway. Popular attractions Ben Prior Park and Goldfields Museum & Visitor Centre are located nearby. 6.8 1 h 23 min 2017 16+. Coolgardie's only operating pub, the historic Denver City Hotel, has been put on the market with an asking price of $550,000. "The girls soon realise that to meet expectations out here, they'll need to do more than just serve drinks.". But director Pete Gleeson said there was more to the film that the portrayal of drunken locals. It's a documentary/film about 2 young female backpackers, sent by an agency, to do a 3 month stint as bar staff at a remote pub in a small mining town in Western Australia. It was his first time at the Kalgoorlie cinema, and he was one of a number of Coolgardie locals who made the 40 kilometre trip. Contractor Suggest edits to improve what we show. That is something I would go back and change if I could.. two Finnish backpackers find themselves the latest batch of fresh meat The sometimes amusing, sometimes appalling documentary follows two young Finnish backpackers, Lina and Steph, as they weather a Hotel Coolgardieis to bogans whatJawsis to sharks. For the latest information, searchABC Emergency, For the latestweather warnings in the Northern Territory, search onABC Emergency. Hotel, Accommodation & Meals are available from the Oldest Licenced hotel in the goldfields. There are moments of levity - and a lot of heart in form of a toothless gentle giant named Can Man - but through the chuckles remains a looming threat that all women will be familiar with. of the human condition, the naked lunch for all to see, and putting "Not quite sure what to expect," said one Coolgardie local who drove to nearby Kalgoorlie for the local premiere on Wednesday. It's a humorous, absorbing, uneasy and often disturbing account of life inside a Coolgardie pub, as experienced by two Finnish travellers, Lina and Steph. Where the subtle power dynamics and latent expectations of the place were for these new comers. Maybe we should have some sort of competition jelly wrestling or wet T-shirt, one patron suggests, referring tothe new arrivals and their predecessors. While Gleeson tries his hardest to get us to look beyond the troublingattitudes and pronouncements of the town's populace, it's hard not to feel somewhat unclean after spending 80 minutes in their company. Hotel Coolgardie | movie | 2017 | Official Trailer. Always Reward yourself your way Stay where you want, when you want, and get rewarded Learn about Hotels.com Rewards Unlock instant savings Runtime: 102 mins. Every day we got to hear that we were stupid. In fact, working holiday programs have been sending barmaids into remote pubs for decades. Duration 2 min 13 sec Views 3,215 Posted On May 03, 2016 Director Pete Gleeson Writer Gleeson said he had told the story of "outsiders" trapped in a difficult situation. Coolgardie, Western Australia. "What do you eat in Finland? "There's bad luck and decision-making that comes into it.". I dont know if they are even aware they are being sexist. Even their boss hurls insults at them, calling them 'stupid' and asking: 'You eat seals and s***, don't cha? The Coolgardie of today is a pleasant inland town, which has retained many aspects of its rich and colourful past. 7.8/10 (45 reviews) Coolgardie GoldRush Motels. "It's an interpretation, and it's the vision as seen through the eyes of two people who come and work at a particular time, in this particular place under particular circumstances," he said. It gives concrete . He envisioned making a film about foreigners adjusting to the norms and expectations of Coolgardie. Racism got a whole new meaning for me in Coolgardie says Finnish backpacker Lina who worked with her friend at Hotel Coolgardie. Lipman was born in South Australia, the son of Judah Moss Lipman (c. 1852 - 7 July 1911) married Sylvia Selina Hyams (died 24 August 1918) on 9 March 1881. The 120-year-old building contains the town's watering hole and 26 hotel rooms in the centre of Coolgardie's . 560 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie, WA, 6430. One of the town's highlights though, is the arrival of new barmaids every few months. The characters we meet at the titular watering hole are fair dinkum. That night changed the course of the rest of my life dramatically. Coolgardie is a mining town, so most of the population will be men who "fly in fly out" to work on up to 4 weeks on 1 week off swings. FRESH OFF THE PLANE AND IN NEED OF MONEY, But after they were robbed in Bali, they needed the work to replenish their travel fund and return home. It did feel like we were being objectified. David Stratton, who gave the film four stars. No woman in this day and age should be subjected to a workplace where a culture of sexual harassment is accepted, regardless of the job's location. The behaviour of the men in Coolgardie is undoubtedly unsettling, though the film wasnt made from a feminist perspective. On a dusty highway between Australia's most isolated city and its largest gold pit lies Coolgardie - where the arrival every three months of a new pair of foreign backpackers to work the onl On a dusty highway between Australia's most isolated city and its largest gold pit lies Coolgardie - where the arrival every three months of a new pair of foreign backpackers to work the only bar in town is a keenly anticipated event. The idea of sending groups of women to provide for male-dominated outposts sounds like something from convict-era Australia, but it's an attitude that appears ingrained in some remote towns populated by largely male workforces. Fresh off the plane and lured by the promise of an . Imagine you're on an adventure on the other side of the world. The real heroes of the film are Lina and Steph, who display a stoicism despite being thousands of miles from home in a hostile environment with few allies and, for Lina, very serious health struggles. 863 were here. Hotel Coolgardie. Two Finnish backpackers find themselves under siege when they take jobs behind the bar in this Western Australia mining-town pub. CANMAN (OOS) You also find yourself wondering why the Finns endured such a demeaning and potentially dangerous workplace. To say the pairs stay in Australia was doomed from the start might be a little bit dramatic, but its fair to say their trip of a lifetime began pretty shakily. Show more 10 Exceptional 1 reviews Price from 179 per night Check availability 3 bedroom 2 bathroom home walking distance to town The steak only fitted half the bread roll and was only about 3mm thick . "It was difficult to be in a foreign country, with no money, no family and without any support system. Come and enjoy a coffee and cake, Steak, Parmie, Fish & Chips ( snapper ) $12.50 and lots more, from 10am daily. When two Finnish girls take jobs in the. Like, were not faking it. Most girls would get on great they adapted well and would leave with an authentic outback story to tell.. "But as a film, we were going to choose moments that most impacted the women, and those moments were not always positive.". Yes I do. One sloshed patron early in the running time suggests he should go to bed with one of the bartenders, because his penis is very small and thus it would be short and painless. Boulder (Near Coolgardie) Comfortable Villa across the road from the Historic Recreation Hotel is set in Boulder. Reindeer? 11. Or dumb as a horse. Crowds line the streets in Coolgardie last year. $101. Your boss berates you from across the bar, and describes you as "fresh meat", laughing along with the leering men. Top hotels in Widgiemooltha. The name Coolgardie is said to be derived from the aboriginal word "Coolcaby", and is said to be a reference to the area's mulga vegetation and gnamma waterholes. By not really wanting to play the game, or interact the way they were expected, they kind of became this blank canvas for people to project their own simmering inner conflicts on to. Hotel Coolgardie(dir. They had been robbed in Bali, so needed/wanted to earn enough money to buy a car and drive around Australia. It wasn't all bad, apparently, but Lina said watching the film back wasemotional for her. Confronted with a culture of alienation and impunity in limbo between being desired and disdained, The gruff pub owner cycles through female employees every three or so months,giving them food, money and a place to sleep in exchange for hard work and minimal complaints. It was filmed several years ago and I had forgotten a lot of what happened. Tick to subscribe, untick to unsubscribe from any newsletters below: Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture. (527 reviews) "My room was clean, comfortable and everything worked. In the film, these drunken patrons are seen abusing and making unwanted sexual advances towards the young women. I thought that might speak to something about Australian culture, or culture in general, he tells Guardian Australia. Susannah Guthrie Entertainment Editor @susguthrie At one point the girls are shown a photo album full of naked former-bartenders the pub has a three-month staff turnover, by the way. Released January 7th, 2018, 'Hotel Coolgardie' stars The movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 24 min, and received a user score of 75 (out of 100) on TMDb, which collated reviews from 11 experienced . And thats where things start to go wrong. All the drama of their Outback stintwas captured on camera and is the subject ofHotel Coolgardie, a documentary currently showing at the Sydney Film Festival. "I guess if you're from Goldfields tourism, you're not going to want to have viewers think what's in the film is emblematic or typical of the Goldfields experience," he said. captivates from INTRIGUING start to BITTERSWEET end Slug Magazine, Gleeson weaves in a SLY SENSE OF HUMOUR Life at Coolgardie's Denver City Hotel is not for the faint-hearted or easily-offended. "Our concern was in an observational film about a particular situation; it's up to the audience to decide.". Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Hotel Coolgardie at Amazon.com. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in our reviews. mcu CANMAN AT BAR. Thats up to the audience to decide. It sounds like the beginnings of a horror movie, and in many ways it is. Racism got a whole new meaning for me in Coolgardie. In remotest red-dust Australia is the sleepy mining town of Coolgardie. History Gleeson and his team aimed for an observational style,keeping his subjects at arms-length and never intervening in the sometimes-concerningaction. And of course, the locals. Today the Shire of Coolgardie has a population of approximately 5,000 people and encompasses an area of 30,400 square kilometres incorporating four townships namely, Coolgardie, Kambalda, Kambalda West and Widgiemooltha. Lina isnt entirely sure what breeds such xenophobia. Lake Lefroy Motel and Bar. 0.9 mi from city center. However, others who had only seen the trailer had a new opinion after seeing the film. At its peak "It swarmed with diggers and speculators when the teams arrived. A picnic area, laundry facilities, and barbecue grills are also on offer. Damn it theyre disgusting, Lina says to Steph in Finnish after their first shift. It's publican Jack McGregor made the hotel rather popular as it was a welcoming place for the early goldrush miners with a relaxed dresscode and free meals for those down on their luck. documentary or otherwise, to come out of Australia in ages. Film Blerg, veers between INTIMATE MOMENTS of human warmth and vulnerability The man behind a new documentary claiming to expose the dark side of life at a Goldfields hotel has defend his film from local criticism. While the movie is devoid of the blood and gore ofWolf Creek, its portrayal of the experiences of two Finnish girls working at a pub in a tiny West Australianmining town is terrifyingin its own right. . their working holiday rapidly deteriorates into a bizarre test of endurance, as they discover There's no escape. There's no escape. Except those quarters are not your own home they're upstairs at the very same pub, where over the next few weeks you'll have to fend off drunk and often menacing strangers who are hell bent on following you into your bed, and can't be made to leave. Laureen Hemming on Google (April 14, 2019, 7:48 am) . Hotel Coolgardie and the problem with sending barmaids to remote mining towns, Lina and Stephie, the two Finnish backpackers followed in. Featuring room service, this property also provides guests with a grill. We didnt even notice after the first day or two that we had a film crew surrounding us all the time., However, despite how tough their time in Coolgardie might have been, in retrospect Lina can see the lighter side of it. Wed, 25 September 2019 11:52PM. Gleeson, a Perth local, decided to make the film after regularly spending time at the pub, confessing his own interest in the barmaids. It was a good mixture of emotions really.". 4.0. Auctioneers bawled from their rostrums set up in the open. By With no security to back them up, and with a boss whose singular concern is how quickly they're refilling the customers' drinks, the two girls are left to navigate on their own these often increasingly threatening interactions, almost all of which are predicated on the men's sense of sexual entitlement and expectation. Years on, Lina says watching the film was emotional and left her feeling angry. Every day we got to hear that we were stupid. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/outback-documentary-hotel-coolgardie-holds-mirror-to-culture/8622168, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Daily letter deliveries in the firing line as part of new Australia Post review, Defiant Wilkinson lays out defamation defence, Edmund Rice Education Australia issues apology to parents at Victorian school for failing to meet child safety standards, Station master arrested over deadly Greece train collision, Australia leads India by 47 runs after spin dominates day one of the third Test, Three unpublicised data breaches affected millions of Australians' personal details, according to watchdog, NSW mother to be sentenced next month for 24yo daughter's manslaughter, Key figures from the Voice 'Yes' and 'No' campaigns explain the state of play, Dutton warns against UK submarines for AUKUS, drawing fire from government. '[We] didn't want to lose the job, because we needed the money. Hotel Coolgardie is one of the most captivating Australian documentaries in recent memory. Denver City Hotel Coolgardie, adres 73 Bayley St, Coolgardie WA 6429 . To move beyond the region 's notoriously blokey image backpackers find themselves siege... Everyone knows that the Goldfields, because we needed the money thought that speak... With a grill this candid off the plane and lured by the promise an., 6430 and Stephie, the two backpackers though the film wasnt made from a feminist.. Bar in this Western Australia mining-town pub film about a particular situation ; it with... Norms and expectations of the most captivating Australian documentaries in recent memory the motel, rooms. Backpackers followed in Daily Times, completely STUNNING you also find yourself wondering why the Finns endured such a and! Abusing and making unwanted sexual advances towards the young women out of Australia in ages these new comers it with! Disturbing, and thoroughly bizarre, this candid Emergency, for the latest information, searchABC Emergency for... And Stephie, the two Finnish backpackers followed in made from a feminist perspective,... Review ratings for Hotel Coolgardie and the problem with sending barmaids to remote towns. The outsider forced to adapt or face the consequences, WA, 6430 with a grill move the... Like anywhere. `` it sounds like the beginnings of a horror,... The heaviest impact on the two Finnish backpackers find themselves under siege when they take behind. Life dramatically culture in general, he tells Guardian Australia & # x27 ve... The Oldest Licenced Hotel in the Northern Territory, search onABC Emergency Goldfields leaders aiming to move beyond region... Of new barmaids every few months promise of an untick to unsubscribe from any newsletters:. Is the arrival of new barmaids every few months on offer their shift... We are no longer accepting comments on this article for decades are being sexist arrived. `` the girls soon realise that to meet expectations out here, 'll! Just serve drinks. `` we are no longer accepting comments on this article town. It is the dirt-baked 1971 masterpiece, Coolgardie residents depicted in the open we the! Was a good mixture of emotions really. `` Times, completely STUNNING shapes our culture told! Our guests praise the restaurant and the problem with sending barmaids into remote pubs for decades feminist perspective onABC.. Had a new opinion after seeing the film on were the ones who treated us the..., Coolgardie residents depicted in the Northern Territory, search onABC Emergency Park and Goldfields &! To remote mining towns, Lina says to Steph in Finnish after their first shift had been in... Money to buy a car and drive around Australia of an today is a inland! Rostrums set up in the sometimes-concerningaction the region 's notoriously blokey image were for these new.... ] SEE more PROPERTIES for decades the road from the Historic Recreation Hotel is set in boulder, am... Seen abusing and making unwanted sexual advances towards the young women latest information, Emergency! Changed the course of the world, is the arrival of new barmaids every few months they 'll need do. The worst, for the latest information, searchABC Emergency, for the latestweather warnings in the Northern Territory search. Said he understood the apprehension that some people who lived in Coolgardie WA 6429 Kalgoorlie, WA 6430! Searchabc Emergency, for hotel coolgardie canman death latestweather warnings in the sometimes-concerningaction Official Trailer barbecue grills are also on offer latent. Staff in our reviews berates you from across the bar, and describes you as fresh... Our reviews difficult to be in a foreign country, with no money, no and... Endured such a demeaning and potentially dangerous workplace question is whether Hotel Coolgardie at Amazon.com expectations. Out of Australia in ages a particular situation ; it swarmed with diggers and when..., untick to unsubscribe from any newsletters below: Get unlimited access to the audience to.... Team aimed for an observational style, keeping his subjects at arms-length and never intervening the! Need to do more than just pulling beers and managing a few units. Only seen the film can hardly be relegated to the audience to decide. `` set up the! To unsubscribe from any newsletters below: Get unlimited access to the film four stars 's up to norms. Finnish backpackers followed in, search onABC Emergency her friend at Hotel Coolgardie is a of! 73 Bayley St, Coolgardie residents depicted in the film back wasemotional for her and without any support system the! Kalgoorlie, WA, 6430 horror movie, and thoroughly bizarre, this property also provides guests a. It becomes clear very quickly that their job is more than just pulling beers managing. Coolgardie residents depicted in the Goldfields is a pretty multi-faceted place, like anywhere. `` reflects Gleeson the... The latest information, searchABC Emergency, for the latest information, searchABC Emergency, for the warnings! And without any support system, the two backpackers do more than just serve.... He understood the apprehension that some people who lived in Coolgardie says Finnish backpacker who... Very quickly that their job is more than just pulling beers and managing a few units! Very much more intense than we anticipated, reflects Gleeson along with the leering men meet at titular... Few months we are no longer accepting comments on this article demeaning and potentially dangerous.... | 2017 | Official Trailer was difficult to be the [ ] SEE more PROPERTIES pulling beers and managing few! Having seen the Trailer had a new opinion after seeing the film of drunken locals they need! Behind the bar, and thoroughly bizarre, this property also provides guests with grill. The world leaders aiming to move beyond the region 's notoriously blokey image the Historic Recreation is!, Kalgoorlie, WA, 6430 my life dramatically much more intense than we anticipated, reflects Gleeson soon. The subtle power dynamics and latent expectations of the place were for these new comers situation ; 's! And thoroughly bizarre, this candid bar, and thoroughly bizarre, this property also provides guests with grill., completely unexpected, completely STUNNING rest of my life dramatically 1971 masterpiece, Coolgardie residents in... Are being sexist you as hotel coolgardie canman death fresh meat '', laughing along with the leering men endured! Changed the course of the most captivating Australian documentaries in recent memory the region 's blokey... Amp ; Visitor Centre are located nearby my room was clean, and... Film four stars guests praise the restaurant and the problem with sending barmaids into remote for! My life dramatically david Stratton, who gave the film is another setback for Goldfields leaders to! Into a bizarre test of endurance, as they discover There 's bad and..., keeping his subjects at arms-length and never intervening in the Northern Territory, search onABC Emergency question whether! Are seen abusing and making unwanted sexual advances towards the young women barbecue... Stratton, who gave the film can hardly be relegated to the norms and expectations of Coolgardie their is! That to meet expectations out here, they 'll need to do more than just drinks. Of an find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Hotel Coolgardie helpful customer reviews review... Stephie, the two backpackers that their job is more than just serve drinks ``. With diggers and speculators when the teams arrived audience to decide. `` got. A picnic area, laundry facilities, and in many ways it is adventure the... They are even aware they are being sexist filmed several years ago and i had forgotten a of! Out of Australia in ages the Trailer had a new opinion after the! Bad, apparently hotel coolgardie canman death but Lina said watching the film that the of... A microcosm of broader Australian society had the heaviest impact on the other side of the.. No family and without any support system meet expectations out here, they 'll need to do than. And decision-making that comes into it. `` that night changed the of. Sending barmaids to remote mining towns, Lina and Stephie, the Finnish. To hear that we were supposed to rely on were the ones who treated us worst! In many ways it is in ages to adapt or face the consequences helpful in... Their things and go to meet expectations out here, they 'll need to more! Whole new meaning for me in Coolgardie the money speculators when the teams arrived St, Coolgardie residents in... More than just serve drinks. `` of Australia in ages reviews and review ratings for Hotel and! Reflects Gleeson any support system 's highlights though, is the arrival of new every. Comfortable and everything worked Finnish backpacker Lina who worked with her friend at Hotel Coolgardie | 2017 Official. With diggers and speculators when the teams arrived to Steph in Finnish after first! Towards the young women even aware they are being sexist the coverage that our... However, others who had only seen the Trailer had a new opinion after seeing film! 14, 2019, 7:48 am ) Meals are available from the Licenced... Of broader Australian society are located nearby he understood the apprehension that some people who lived in Coolgardie information... Is whether Hotel Coolgardie is undoubtedly unsettling, though the film, these drunken patrons are seen and! 'S highlights though, is the sleepy mining town of Coolgardie Australian society the of. He said he understood the apprehension that some people who lived in Coolgardie with the leering men Get... Day we got to hear that we were stupid opinion after seeing the film the.