The days are long, but the years are short, as the old saying goes. That sentiment is at the heart of the 2021 Australian rom-com “Long Story Short,” which debuted on Netflix this past January. Written and directed by Hollywood multihyphenate Josh Lawson, the film tells the story of Teddy (Rafe Spall), a thirtysomething “serial procrastinator” who is hit with a strange curse the morning following his wedding in which every few minutes, his life is flashed forward an entire year, with Teddy having no recollection of any events that took place in the interim. The affliction quickly wreaks havoc on his marriage – and the rest of his life along with it.
Of coming up with the unique time-bending construct, Lawson told the Script website, “I think initially I thought, ‘Oh, I’ll do this thing where he wakes up and every morning he wakes up, it’ll be a different year.’ You know, like ‘Groundhog Day.’ And then, I felt like I’m wasting too much time. There’s too much downtime now in a day, I don’t want to let the foot off the accelerator . . . I need to make it feel for him, what life feels like for all of us, that it’s over in the blink of an eye.”
Though the premise might sound somewhat bleak, in truth, “Long Story Short” is joyful, funny and feel-good through and through – not to mention highly motivational! As Lawson expressed to Ain’t It Cool, “One of the only certainties of life is death, right? As we know this to be true, then what are you waiting for? If this is all to end, then use that as a fire under you. Why waste anything?” Indeed, by the time the end credits roll, the film will have you jumping out of your seat, raring to chase your every dream!
Oddly, reviews have not been kind, with Courtney Howard of Variety claiming the flick consists of little more than “puddle-deep platitudes that grace wall plaques found in HomeGoods stores” and Jane Freebury of Australia’s Canberra Times stating, “Good lead performances and the gift of scenic locations does not lift the screenplay from the underlying problem of its tricky premise nor its flat, strained humor.”
This writer wholeheartedly disagrees. “Long Story Short” makes for a delightful stream and is definitely worth a watch! But Freebury did get one thing right – the locations are incredibly scenic! Set and shot in Australia, the film makes beautiful use of the Sydney coastline. Of choosing to shoot in the area, Lawson explained to Ain’t It Cool, “I think Sydney is one of the most cinematic cities in the world. I would put it right up there with Paris, London, New York in terms of being one of the most beautiful cities to photograph. I think it was a bit of a love letter to what we call the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney.”
Shot in a scant 20 days, the production made use of such spots as Cohibar Cigar Lounge & Cocktail Bar, the site of the New Year’s Eve party where Teddy first meets future wife Leanne (Zahra Newman), The Market Canopy in The Entertainment Quarter, where Leanne shops for flowers mid-film, a Nielsen Park bluff, where Leanne and Teddy tie the knot, and Waverley Cemetery, a picturesque graveyard overlooking the ocean in the exclusive suburb of Bronte. Teddy and Leanne’s marital home, the movie’s central location, can also be found in Bronte.
-
Image Credit: StudioCanal -
Image Credit: Domain.com.au Towering over Bronte Beach and its adjacent walking path just a few blocks north of the cemetery, the couple’s abode, which serves as a throughline in the film, stands at 2 Bronte Marine Dr. (Please remember this is a private home. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way.) Fun fact – it sits just below a house that belonged to actors Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams from 2004 to 2006!
In real life, the three-story structure, originally built in 1967, is a multi-family property containing five individual units. Situated on a 0.14-acre lot steps from the sand, the building boasts a handsome brick and stone façade with a large carving that spells out “Angelina” displayed between the first and second levels, though it is unclear what or whom the name is in reference to.
-
Image Credit: Domain.com.au Each of the five units boasts a unique layout with varying amenities such as timber flooring, high ceilings, garages, fireplaces, built-in wardrobes and updated kitchens and baths. The front apartments are the most coveted thanks to their large bay windows offering incredible views of Bronte Beach and the ocean beyond.
Flats range in size from a 500-square-foot studio-type space to a three-bedroom, one-bath spot with 1,200 square feet. Though no units are currently available for lease, OnTheHouse.com estimates that the building’s rental rates run between $3,900 to $4,500 a month.
-
Image Credit: StudioCanal -
Image Credit: Domain.com.au Only the exterior of the property appears in “Long Story Short.” Because the vast majority of the storyline takes place inside Teddy and Leanne’s home, a set was built for interior filming. Art director Patrick James Howe fashioned the layout of the space closely after that of Unit #1 on the building’s second level, with each of the rooms open to the next, allowing the characters and the cameras to move in an almost circular motion from the front hall through to the main living spaces around to the bedrooms and back again.Cinematographer Matt Toll told Screen Australia, “Josh was really keen from the beginning to use a lot of Steadicam in the film to keep it flowing. It’s very sort of dialogue-heavy. The film flows throughout the apartment.” Howe’s design certainly helped achieve the fluidity Lawson desired.
As evidenced above, the building’s actual interiors look quite a bit different than what was depicted onscreen, with Teddy and Leanne’s place boasting a professional designer’s unmistakable touch.
-
Image Credit: StudioCanal -
Image Credit: Domain.com.au The couple’s sunroom does appear to have been precisely modeled upon that of Unit 1, however, with a nearly identical bay window and tile flooring.
-
Image Credit: StudioCanal -
Image Credit: Domain.com.au And, of course, the fabulous view showcased in the film is the real deal – a perfectly cinematic blufftop vista of Bronte Beach’s pristine sands and waters!