The Home Song Stories

The Home Song Stories tells the story of Rose and her two children Tom and May. As their mother, Rose behaves less like a parent and more like a partner in crime, shuttling her children from home to home in tandem with her series of doomed relationships. They're quite used to packing up and moving on, but seven years after emigrating from Hong Kong to Australia they are clearly craving stability. Initially Rose appears confident; she gets along with her children, they share jokes, and she always seems to find a solution. But eventually, her behaviour becomes more and more destructive, first towards herself and later towards her teenage daughter May who she sees as a rival love interest for her partner.

This is a harrowing tale of an unstable childhood, all the more devastating because it’s based on the real life experiences of director Tony Ayres. Viewing events through the eyes of the younger child Tom, we witness his sister's attempts to take charge of an increasingly desperate situation, largely without any adult support. Kitsch dramatisations of Tom’s dreams, inspired by his beloved comic books and kung fu films, provide welcome light relief; but in his waking life we observe his aversion techniques as he tries to ignore the drama unfolding around him. Joan Chen is captivating as Rose: one of the most moving scenes comes when we learn of her own background and the experiences behind her fear of abandonment. The film itself is a compelling examination of one woman’s pain, reverberating out to those around her, and a brave expression of love.