Jimpa by Sophie Hyde (2025)

Watched by Matthew Donlan at Mardi Gras Film Festival

What is a film without conflict? Is it not inherent in any film, let alone a family drama, and particularly one about a family separated? This is the question with which Hannah (Olivia Colman) grapples as she attempts to pitch to executives her latest film, drawn from her own life. It is in many ways a mirror of the sorts of conversations which Australian director, Sophie Hyde contended with while developing her latest feature, Jimpa. 

Jimpa is a deeply personal film. Not only being drawn from her own life, but Sophie Hyde cast her own child, Aud Mason-Hyde in the central role of Hannah’s non-binary child, Frances. It is, in many definitions of the term, a family drama. 

It begins with Frances, Hannah and her husband Harry (Daniel Henshall) flying to Amsterdam to visit Hannah’s father Jim. At the beginning of the trip, Frances drops the bombshell that they would like to live with Jim (or Jimpa as he refers to himself as grandpa sounded too old). They want to explore their identity in the much-larger and more-accepting queer community of Europe. Frances’ parents think it’s too early at 16 to leave school and move overseas but agree to let them discover the truth of Jimpa themselves.

Hannah’s relationship with her father is strained. Decades ago in Adelaide, Jim came out as gay to his wife. With two children, he stayed for many years, but when Hannah was 13, Jim felt that his career could go no further in conversative Australia and so moved overseas. He has a habit of letting down those around him as he expresses his own identity and opinions. 

While in Amsterdam, Frances falls into a welcoming queer group while struggling to decide whether to stay, Hannah struggles to develop her film while protecting her family and Jim’s work and health pressures begin to catch up while adamant that everything is fine. It is a surprisingly large film that covers much emotional ground despite the appearance of a contained family drama.

In each performance there is a frustrated love that comes with every family member. It is delivered convincingly by the entire ensemble, making these messy dynamics relatable. Olivia Colman is as exceptional as ever, presenting a subdued affection and warm, caring gaze in every scene. She can embody the feeling of smallness you get around your parents, no matter how old you are, while also still presenting the image of a confident mother to their child. John Lithgow as Jim is audacious and care-free. He brings a youthful spontaneity to the aged queer role, yet this recklessness provokes sympathy, not antagonism, from the audience.

But these two central performances can only really excel due to the excellent work of the Australian ensemble. Aud Mason-Hyde gives a quiet performance, acting as that wide-eyed observer to a whole new world. You can see the universe expanding in their eyes as they go to nightclubs, cruising spots and coffee-catch ups with the elder gays. Henshall as Hannah’s husband provides that stable supporting role which both grounds and lightens those around him. And Kate Box delivers a much-needed energetic breath in the third act, acting as an emotional gust that perfectly mirrors sibling dynamics.

One detail which fleshes out these familial relations is the use of flashbacks spread throughout the film. Instead of drawn-out sequences, Hyde has opted for quick flashes of the past, depicting almost all of the characters we meet at various stages of life. We see their childhood and adolescence, as they fall in and out of love. While succeeding to varying degrees it is most effective for the elder gay group that surrounds Jim. Within seconds, this group celebrates the sexual liberation of the 1970s, mourns the loss of their friends in the 80s and reminisces on their time in the present. It redefines in a more positive frame the sentiment that ‘we could always tell’ to affirm that yes, we were always queer, we were always here.

Jimpa screens in cinemas from Thursday 19 February.

Pick of the Week
This week, head down to Mothership Studios for one last time in February and enjoy Blonde Death hosted by Pink Flamingo. A bare-bones biting satire, Blonde Death follows young Tammy as she transforms from a perfect teen to a rage-driven nightmare! Details are here.

New Releases - Thursday 19 Feb.

• Jimpa (Sophie Hyde) AUS
• EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (Baz Luhrmann)
• Fackham Hall (Jim O'Hanlon)
• Pillion (Harry Lighton)
• Paul McCartney: Man On The Run (Morgan Neville)
• Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie (Matt Johnson) 20th-21st ONLY