Nitram

Nitram
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Justin Kurzel
Written by	Shaun Grant
Produced by	Nick Batzias Virginia Whitwell Justin Kurzel Shaun Grant
Starring	Caleb Landry Jones Judy Davis Essie Davis Anthony LaPaglia
Cinematography	Germain McMicking
Edited by	Nick Fenton
Music by	Jed Kurzel
Production companies	Good Thing Productions Wild Bunch International Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund
Distributed by	Madman Films Stan
Release dates	16 July 2021 (2021-07-16) (Cannes) 30 September 2021 (2021-09-30) (Australia)
Running time	112 minutes US$418,828[2]

Nitram is a 2021 Australian biographical psychological drama film directed by Justin Kurzel from a screenplay by Shaun Grant.^[3] The film revolves around the life and behaviors of a mentally distressed young man called "Nitram" (based on Martin Bryant), and the events leading to his involvement in the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania. The film stars Caleb Landry Jones, Judy Davis, Essie Davis and Anthony LaPaglia.^[4][5]

Nitram premiered at the

Nitram is an intellectually disabled young adult who lives with his parents in Tasmania. He regularly sets off fireworks, which upsets the neighbours, and sells his fireworks to schoolchildren. His father has recently been approved for a business loan with which he hopes to buy a bed and breakfast that Nitram will help run. Nitram begs his mother to buy him a surfboard after seeing an attractive woman with a surfer, but she is exasperated and refuses.

Nitram starts mowing lawns to make money. In the process, he meets a neighbour named Helen, a retired actress and heiress, who offers to pay him to walk her dogs. The two quickly become friends, and Helen buys him a car, despite Nitram not having a driver's licence and exhibiting a dangerous habit of grabbing the steering wheel when the two are driving.

Nitram becomes increasingly frustrated with life at home and tells his parents he is moving in with Helen, who permits him to stay in a spare room but insists that he get rid of his air rifle as it upsets her. On his next birthday, Nitram introduces Helen to his parents; his mother tells Helen an anecdote about a young Nitram taking pleasure in the pain he caused her after pretending to be lost.

Despite having the funds for the bed and breakfast, Nitram's father's offer is rejected when another couple makes a higher offer, and he becomes despondent. Nitram asks Helen if the two can visit Hollywood, Los Angeles, but on the drive to the airport the next day he once again lunges for the steering wheel, resulting in a devastating car crash that kills Helen and severely injures him. When questioned by police, Nitram lies that he was asleep at the time of the crash.

Nitram, having inherited Helen's decaying mansion and over half a million

While watching the news one night, Nitram sees a report about the Dunblane massacre. He then becomes obsessed with guns, purchasing an unlicensed Colt AR-15 and shotgun and ordering a handgun. One day, he drives to the bed and breakfast his father wanted to buy and shoots the owners, then drives to the café where Helen and his parents celebrated his birthday. After ordering food, he sets up a video camera, retrieves a rifle from his sports bag and opens fire on the tourists. At her home, Nitram's mother smokes, unaware of the news report of the massacre playing in the background.

• Caleb Landry Jones as "Nitram" (based on Martin Bryant; "Nitram" is "Martin" spelt backwards)^[6]
• Judy Davis as Nitram's mother (based on Carleen Bryant)^[7]
• Essie Davis as Helen (based on Helen Mary Elizabeth Harvey)
• Anthony LaPaglia as Maurice (based on Maurice Bryant)
• Sean Keenan as Jamie
• Rick James as the gun shop owner

On 17 November 2020, it was announced that Justin Kurzel would direct a film focused on the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, starring Caleb Landry Jones, Judy Davis, Essie Davis and Anthony LaPaglia.^[8][9] Principal photography of the film began on 23 January 2021 and concluded on 13 March 2021 in Geelong, Victoria.^[10]

The film had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on 16 July 2021.^[11] It was scheduled to screen in mid-August at the later-cancelled Melbourne International Film Festival^[12] and later screened at CinefestOZ in Western Australia in late August 2021.^[13]

It received a

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Nitram holds a 93% approval rating based on 121 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads, "Nitram asks viewers to face a gut-wrenchingly grim moment in Australian history—but rewards that effort with a gripping, well-acted character study."^[17] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 81 out of 100 based on reviews from 26 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".^[18]

The film was met by widespread controversy within Tasmania itself. Kelly Spaulding, mayor of the Tasman Council, which includes Port Arthur, condemned the choice to make the film. The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, which was established by Walter Mikac, whose wife and two young daughters were murdered in the Port Arthur massacre, released a statement also condemning the choice to produce the film. The Police Association of Tasmania, the union for Tasmania Police, indicated it was worried how members of the union's mental health would be impacted.^[19] The Star Theatre in Launceston and the State Cinema in Hobart were the only cinemas in Tasmania to show the film. However, the State Cinema chose not to advertise the screenings.^[20]

The production company invited arts minister Elise Archer to meet, but she declined. Screen Tasmania declined to fund the film. The then-Premier of Tasmania, Peter Gutwein, stated to the House of Assembly that it made him uncomfortable. Other state politicians including Brian Mitchell, federal member for Lyons, and Rebecca White, Leader of the Opposition, expressed concern.^[21]