THE RAGE IN PLACID LAKE International Feature Competition

Australian rocker Ben Lee makes his feature debut as Placid Lake in this sly comedy with hysterical performances by Miranda Richardson and Garry MacDonald as his parents, THE RAGE IN PLACID LAKE is a sweet, twisted coming-of-age story.

When Placid finishes high school, he decides to rebel. Having been born to a couple of self-involved, touchy-feely New Agers, middle-class conformity is the obvious choice. After a lifetime of daily pummelings-starting on his first day of school, when his mother makes him wear a dress to challenge gender stereotyping-Placid is ready to fit in. While his best friend, the equally oddball science-geek Gemma, watches warily, and his parents blanch from shock, Placid throws himself into the deeply settling world of insurance sales in an attempt to find happiness.

First-time director Tony McNamara’s love for these characters is apparent. THE RAGE IN PLACID LAKE is an absurdist look at angst where the humor is dark, but never gloomy.