Sunday Star Times reviews Separation City
July 26th 2009

By Mark Broatch

4 Stars

A decade or two in the making, Separation City (once known as The Truth about Men) boasts a screenplay that shows signs of considerable honing by Scott, a media and politics veteran, both in it’s jokes about an MP with a touch of the (alleged) Richard Worth’s – “What’s a prophylactic?” “Same as a condom, sir, only smaller” – and in the poignancy of its observations. Shagging your wife’s friend is bad. “It’s cruel and worse than that, it’s lazy”

The leads are all excellent, though Mitra struggles womanfully to escape being regarded simply as an object of wish fulfillment. The rest of the cast is fine too, from Alan Lovell’s debaucherous MP to Grant Roa’s sexually opportunist Tem, to poor fellow adviser Julie. I certainly hope Harry is Scott’s favourite, as he gets by far the best lines. Both Edgerton and Hill are Australians, but we should not hold that against them, nor apparently, let our women near them. Apart from Jodie Rimmer being sadly underused, there are a few gripes. Premature ejaculation, does it ever occur so hopelessly – other than in films? I hope not. Parliament surely can’t be such a sweary cesspit of drink and sex, or else perhaps we should all put our names on the ballot. And Wellington as a city looks too good, its boisterous moods swept away by calm, sunny days. Are we wired for adultery? As the losers make their way to Separation City, to compare notes and lick their wounds, the film suggests: maybe.