‘…perhaps the most interesting thing about Purcell’s approach is how he’s able to capture so much life with impeccable subtlety … and with a voice that is clear, formal and contemporary.
‘It obviously goes without saying, if you enjoyed the films, you’ll certainly enjoy the poems in “Filmworks”. However, it’s not mandatory to have seen the movies; because these poems are much more than companion pieces. They stand on their own, with their own merits.
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There are a variety of perspectives and roles Purcell uses throughout Filmworks. You’ll notice as you read the book, he is sometimes the audience, sometimes the lone observer and commentator (ie I just have to mention this line: Stalker: “Our tiny lives lost on the big screen”), and occasionally he almost takes on the role of director. There are moments where he is the protagonist of his own life (or movie perhaps?) and there are moments where he literally IS the protagonist of the film. The latter being most notable in poems like 8 ½ and At Eternity’s Gate. Purcell’s first-person narrative intensifies a feeling of intimacy which effortlessly makes him become the character simply by identifying with them and the concept of ‘The Artist’s Journey.”
‘Australia is very fortunate to have Brian Purcell in its cultural landscape. He is an artist who values life, nature and humanity and has an uncanny ability to capture and preserve them – while leaving pieces of his own soul in the mix just for our amusement – in very unique yet very relatable ways.’
D G Lloyd, prizewinning author of ‘Alive in Dubbo’
