The setting is high school and everyone has a story, except no one knows anyone’s stories. 2:37 tells those stories, those secrets.

Release Date: July 27, 2010
Running Time: 95 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated

From 20-year-old writer/producer/director Murali K. Thalluri comes the shattering drama of six high school students and the day that will change their lives forever. Each one including a popular jock, an awkward outcast, a fragile beauty, an academic overachiever and a closet homosexual has a dark secret. Every secret carries its own tortuous weight. And for one of them, the pressure will explode today at exactly 2:37. Teresa Palmer (The Grudge 2, The Sorcerer s Apprentice), Frank Sweet and Sam Harris lead a remarkable ensemble cast in this controversial indie that has been called unblinking (Montreal Mirror), extraordinary (Hoopla) and electrically revelatory (In Film), and remains one of the most shockingly accurate portrayals of high school teens in cinema today.

The film follows a few teenagers…one who has an unfortunate family dynamic, two who are at odds with their sexuality, one who is subject to bullying for his disabilities, one with an eating disorder, and one battling depression. While there is some back story, the film does not completely explain why or how all of these characters got into the positions that they are on…because it only follows the characters over the course of one day. I am not familiar with many Australian films and young actors, but from what I understand this is a cast full of newcomers. They all did a fabulous job; every performance is solid and portrays genuine high school characters and relationships.

The subject matters for the characters were handled very well – I think I can safely assume that this was the most honest script these actors have come across (and will come across) in quite some time. Now although viewers know in the beginning that by the end of the film, there will be a death…when the death comes, it is so sudden and much more disturbing than I had envisioned it to be. It was one of the two most heartbreaking and graphic scenes in the film (the other scene being the rape). You’ve been warned.

As for the death, it is (SPOILER ALERT) a suicide and it is not a character that you really know and would expect it to be. That’s pretty much how it was in real life, in my experience. There have unfortunately been a few suicides at my old high school and even though I went to a regional high school…all but one time did the majority of the school really know who the person was. So this portrayal I felt was realistic. What was quite tragic was seeing this troubled character go back and forth with if they wanted to indeed take their own life. It was troubling. It was one of the many representations in the film of how alone teenagers are and it was shown with no restrictions.

2:37 is no doubt emotionally engaging because of the incredible cast and screenwriting but the directing. The storytelling was done at a steady pace and was shown well through the clever style of directing. From what I hear, it was done a la the style of the film, Elephant…which I have never seen. Regardless, it was very well directed by Murali K. Thalluri, who made this film when he was 20 years old. This is a job well done to Thalluri for creating such an eye opening and thought provoking film! I definitely recommend that everyone see this as soon as possible.

Special Feature:
Making Of (11:25) – Viewers get to see the behind the scenes of shooting and interviews from Murali K. Thalluri and the cast. Thalluri tells how the screenplay for 2:37 was originated and the research and fund raising involved in being able to make the film. He goes on to discuss the importance of casting, which is when Teresa Palmer begins to discuss how she became involved in the film. Frank Sweet, Sam Harris, and Marni Spillane appear in this feature as well. There are many different challenges that were discussed from rehearsals to shooting intense scenes, to an injury and an investor backing out. But it all leads to a successful premiere at the Cannes Film Festival which ends this feature. This was a very well put together “Making Of” extra, so definitely take the time to check it out.

Own 2:37 on DVD July 27, 2010.