Nitram tells the story of the events leading up to the Port Arthur massacre in 1996. A mass shooting that led to Australia overhauling its gun laws. It is an incredibly difficult watch featuring some very powerful performances. As to whether it gives insight into why such a thing could happen is up to you to decide. 

Martin (Caleb Landry Jones) has been derogatorily called Nitram (Martin backwards) since he was a child because he was slow and unable to fit in. He still lives with his parents (Judy Davis and Anthony LaPaglia) and seems unable to read peoples emotions or connect with them in the way others do. We see him playing with fireworks in front of a school unable to understand why the teachers and his father are upset with him and grabbing the steering wheel of a car whilst a friend test drives it because he thinks it’s funny. He is disconnected and apart. 

When he meets Helen (Essie Davis) whilst out looking for chores to do he develops a strange relationship with her. She is reclusive and rich and finds him interesting and wild. They make plans to go on holiday and the two of them seem happy in their collective oddness. But happiness is not on the cards and slowly Nitram gravitates to an interest in guns. 

Director Justin Kurzel has developed a niche for incredibly gritty and difficult true stories. His debut film Snowtown covered a series of killings between 1992 and 1999 in Australia. Whilst True History Of The Kelly Gang dramatises the life of one of Australia’s most famous outlaws. Nitram easily sits alongside Snowtown for being incredibly difficult to watch and prompted multiple walk outs in the screening I was in. Although perhaps this should be seen as a badge of honour given the subject matter it is portraying.

The performances are incredibly brave and make the endeavour hard to take your eyes from. Caleb Landry Jones is perhaps perfect casting for an outsider but he delivers a sense of unease in everything his character does. Judy Davis and Anthony LaPaglia are excellent as the parents who seem resigned to the fact that they love their son despite there being something wrong with him. Judy Davis scene where she describes a game of hide and seek she played with him as a boy is chilling whilst LaPaglia’s scene on the sofa when he is not feeling well is deeply upsetting. Whilst Essie Davis makes quite an impact in a small role as a recluse. 

It is a film that I both fully recommend and feel the need to give a heavy watch at your own risk warning.