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Director Justin Kurzel has crafted a filmography built on exploring the impact of trauma and violence on a nation. Whether it be his excoriating debut film Snowtown or the acts of cautionary storytelling with Nitram and The Order, Kurzel’s work questions how violence and trauma lingers in our bodies, our minds, and in our lands. That’s a notion that he explores with impressive strength with his first foray into documentary filmmaking, Ellis Park.
This profoundly moving and soul-shaking film is a complex and layered cinematic experience that carries dual purposes. It’s partly a companion piece to musician and all-round-genius Warren Ellis’ transcendent book Nina Simone’s Gum, in which the famed musician regales his experience with the titular item and then expands upon the gums impact on those it meets, while also partly being a dive into the past and present state of Ellis as a musician. Kurzel takes Ellis back to his hometown of Ballarat, where we meet Ellis’ parents, hearing some of his fathers songs and experiencing humanising moments between father, mother, and son.
In these journeys, Kurzel takes Ellis to notable locations near his home – a statue of Pompeii becomes an audience for Ellis’ singular violin work, while the grand crimson auditorium of an empty cinema becomes the vessel for his tunes to be played to a crowd of ghosts – before introducing us to the films other layer, the titular park; a wildlife sanctuary in Sumatra which Ellis co-founded alongside the empathetic Femke den Haas and her fellow conservationists. Ellis notably hadn’t visited the park, yet had dedicated time and financial support to get it off the ground and continue operation. Kurzel’s camera follows Ellis as he embarks on the journey to take a bronze cast of Nina Simone’s gum to the sanctuary, and for Ellis to meet Femke and the other conservationists, while also getting to meet some of the animals cared for in the sanctuary.
I was left in awe by Ellis Park, a film which – I’ll fully admit – had me watching through my hands at times. The presentation of trauma on screen is something that I’ve long considered, especially in relation to the way it marks our psyche and leaves scars on our soul. To be frank, this is secondhand trauma, yet it’s still painful nonetheless. When Kurzel chooses to present footage of animals being rescued from the illegal trades, or to let the weight of stories about the physical trauma that robbed Rina the monkey of her limbs, or Erin the elephant of the end of her trunk, he does so with the knowledge that presentation is education, and education is awareness, and awareness brings about change.
There’s catharsis in Ellis Park, partially because of Warren Ellis and his healing violin, but – as the man says himself – his presence is minimal compared to the presence of Femke and the conservationists. Yet, when paired with Kurzel and editor Nick Fenton, they collectively bring light to a horrifying trade that scars the environment. I’m shaken by Ellis Park because of its presentation of trauma, but equally so for its depiction of empathy, consideration, and support.
This is, oddly, my first time talking to Justin Kurzel. Having listened to and read countless interviews by him, I was aware that I would be engaging with someone who is a deeply empathetic soul, yet I was still left disarmed by his connection to his openness about his connection to his work, his family, and to the art of cinema.
To support the film, Warren Ellis and Justin Kurzel will be running Q&A sessions around the nation. All of the details are in the show notes, but make sure to pick up tickets in advance when the film kicks off with a virtual Q&A with Warren Ellis at Perth’s Luna Leederville cinemas on 5 June, concluding with a Sydney Film Festival and Vivid Sydney exclusive event on 8 June at the State Theatre. Ellis Park then releases wide across Australia on 12 June 2025.
The Ellis Park sanctuary is part of the Jakarta Animal Aid Network, a non-government, non-profit organisation that was established in 2004 to protect Indonesian wildlife, with a focusing on animal cruelty and rescuing animals from the noxious illegal animal trade network. To support the organisation, visit EllisPark.org.
For the month of June 2025, every dollar from Patreon will be sent as a donation to Ellis Park sanctuary, so please consider joining and supporting the Curb and the sanctuary.
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Thursday June 5
Luna Leederville, Perth
Warren Ellis virtual Q&A
Friday June 6
The Astor, Melbourne
Warren Ellis and Justin Kurzel in person Q&A
Saturday June 7
Palace Regent Cinema Ballarat
Warren Ellis and Justin Kurzel in person Q&A
Saturday June 7
Cinema Nova, Melbourne
Warren Ellis in person Q&A
Sunday June 8
State Theatre, Sydney
Sydney Film Festival premiere & Vivid Sydney “An Evening with Warren Ellis” event
Further screening information and tickets are available here.
Screening or Streaming Availability:
