By Travis Johnson
The late artist Adam Cullen is getting the biopic treatment in Acute Misfortune, which began filming this week near the portraitist’s home in Wentworth Falls. Daniel Henshall (Snowtown, Okja) stars as Cullen, while his biographer, journalist Erik Jensen, is played by Toby Wallace (Romper Stomper, Boys In the Trees). Jensen adapted his own book for the screen with actor, writer and director Thomas M. Wright, who is directing.
Perhaps the most notorious artist ever to win the Archibald Prize, Cullen died in 2012 after a prolonged period of dealing with mental and physical health issues. Shortly prior to dying in his sleep he had received a suspended sentence for firearms offences and drink driving.
Speaking of the film, Wright said, “Acute Misfortune is the story of a relationship of abandon, warmth, intensity – and of control, tension and violence. The film reveals the life of an iconic artist and an acclaimed journalist in unsparing detail. It is a literary detective story, about trying to write the truth of another person.”
Jensen added, “Watching as this book becomes a film has been one of the great privileges of my career. I started writing this story when I was 19, staying in Adam’s spare room on the promise of a book contract that never existed. I stayed because Adam fascinated me. Writing the screenplay with Thomas M. Wright was just as illuminating, in some ways, as those years spent interviewing Adam. I have absolute faith in the team assembled to tell this story – in their subtlety and integrity, and willingness to work without judgment or fear.”
Acute Misfortune is produced by Plot Media, Blackheath Film and Arenamedia, with principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with Film Victoria, the MIFF Premiere Film Fund and Soundfirm.
