Aussie New Wave: Harlequin
Article by Bindi Lavelle

An understated gem if the Australian New Wave, Harlequin (also released as Dark Forces) is a thriller which blends genres and conventions to make for an intriguing experience for the viewer.
The film is a clever retelling of the Rasputin story. Harlequin centers around the family of promising young senator Nick Rast. Nick's son is terminally ill with leukemia, but make a recovery thanks to mysterious faith healer Gregory Wolfe. However Wolfe's increasing involvement with the Rast family leads to problems both at home and in the political field.

Wolfe's presence gives a general air of unease to the film; he turns up to the Rast's house dressed as, you guessed it, a harlequin. Robert Powell does the role excellently, acting a little strange at all times with small mannerisms that emphasize his character without overwhelming the film.
What is notable about this film is that while it explores, as the tag line describes, “Magic, Murder, Mystery, Nothing is as it seems” it some how manages to not loose the viewer in its tangents; there are many political references, both to the Romannav family and to contemporary events of the late 70s, early 80s. There are also sub-plots showing Wolfe's ever increasing involvement with members of the Rast family.

Harlequin, is a film worth checking out simply to see the way in which big ideas can be compressed into a film. While it may be confusing to some due to the heavy political themes, this film has a wealth of ideas for the viewer to explore.