General News
18 February, 2025
Dimboola's chance to return to silver screen
Cambodian artist Julien Poulson is set to bring Dimboola back to the screen in his upcoming feature film 'Doin' Alright in Dimboola'.
Mr Poulson, born in Tasmania, is the founder and guitarist for The Cambodian Space Project, a cosmic rock band formed in 2009.
"Working with this amazing group has led me into producing and directing for video and film projects," he said.
Mr Poulson returned to Australia when Covid hit and began working on a film and theatre project called 'The Road to Tibooburra' where he collaborated with Steve Kilbey from The Church, writing many of the songs for the story.
"This project and others has led me back to the idea of looking at classic Australian cinema and the opportunity to bring people together through film," he said.
Now, he is ready to bring Dimboola into the spotlight as he aims to blend dark comedy, rural charm and cosmic chaos to bring humor, heart and cosmic twists to the screen.
Mr Poulson said the town had been in his imagination for a while.
"Just the name itself sounds alluring but getting out to the town and finding such a receptive and diverse community sealed it for me," he said.
"It's a great place with a strong creative history, not least the play 'Dimboola' followed by the movie and, of course, the fact that it was once home to Australia's most iconic painter Sidney Nolan – and a stolen Nolan is central to our film.
"I'm also drawn to the Indigenous history of this region and the stunning landscapes."
Viewers will follow Ranjit Devi, a lovable yet hapless dreamer from India who lives in Dimboola.
His quiet life in town turns wild when he comes across two runaway sisters, Emma and Leanne, who are fleeing a dangerous tobacco smuggler, The Bulgarian.
The chaos escalates when Leanne steals a prized Chihuahua from Tiffany Weng, a ruthless Chinese art dealer searching for a lost Sidney Nolan painting rumoured to be hidden in Dimboola.
Encountering a range of peculiar locals along the way – including Stew, a stoner mechanic who thinks Ranjit's car has "cosmic powers" – Ranjit puts on a Bollywood cosplay-themed party to raise money to help the sisters escape.
Mr Poulson paid a visit to Dimboola during the agricultural society show last year, drawing inspiration from the town's unique atmosphere and characters.
"It's the perfect place to set and make a black comedy and a uniquely Australian movie for present-day times when and where small regional towns are coming alive through new arts and culture," Mr Poulson said.
"Meeting up and chatting with the locals was the best thing: wonderful stories and plenty of great characters.
"I had a brilliant time staying at the Victoria Hotel, the phenomenal Dimboola Imaginarium, heck, even the Dimboola Motel which remains a great potential movie set."
He said he was committed to making this "ambitious" project happen but did need support.
"We need a lot of support and enthusiasm to get the movie off the ground," he said.
Mr Poulson will be hosting 'Sticky Fingers Art Prints Cambodia', an art exhibition at Dimboola Shire Hall on Valentine's Day, February 14, from 7pm to help raise funds and support for the upcoming film project.
