But Also John Clarke Film Review
Summary: This illuminating documentary puts a spotlight on comedian, John Clarke’s life and legacy. You’ll laugh but also will learn a lot.
4.5
The Idiot?!
Iggy Pop may have had an album called “The Idiot” but comedian John Clarke turned it into an artform. And not just any old idiot, John Clarke was a confident idiot. The kind that was a loveable larrikin and someone who lived up to his finest character’s surname in every sense of the word; a dag but an utterly loveable one.
“But Also John Clarke” is a documentary directed by Clarke’s eldest daughter, Lorin Clarke, herself an excellent writer and broadcaster. Lorin brings a respectful and intimate lens to telling the story of her father’s life and legacy. It will audiences larf in every sense, and miss the beloved, late satirist who sadly passed away in 2017.
This documentary includes a lot of talking head interviews. It’s a veritable who’s who of comedy and the arts from both Australia and the antipodes. Consider: Stephen Fry, Sam Neill, Andrew Denton, Wendy Harmer, Shaun Micallef and Jana Wendt, to name but a few.
While Clarke achieved many things in his wonderful life, one thing he didn’t do was pen his memoirs, but luckily Lorin tells her father’s story through the major life milestones and career touchstones. Clarke was born to two parents who met in World War II and he had a turbulent childhood. He was often punished and expelled from school, and later graduated to become a university dropout. But during this time, he was honing his ability to listen, write and satirise, skills that would turn him into a national living treasure alongside his comedy partner, Bryan Dawe.
Clarke is renowned for his character Fred Dagg and there are lots of clips of the affable NZ farmer here. Clarke was a mainstay on screens but he would also shoot lots of home movies during his life. Audiences benefit from enjoying these alongside clips from his political interviews and skits (we all laughed as he played those evasive politicians as himself). There was also a TV series, “The Games,” which no doubt influenced various comedy shows to come, such as Working Dog’s “Utopia.”
An adopted Australian born on the other side of the ditch, Clarke was great at holding up a mirror to society. Before John Clarke, the people on television spoke in posh British accents, yet Clarke used his own authentic accent, and leant in heavily to both Australia and New Zealand’s larrikin cultures. This is what endeared his characters to local audiences, because this wasn’t just about watching some silly idiots; they were razor sharp, and had heart and confidence in spades.
“But Also John Clarke” traces this famous comedian’s love of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore and includes lots of interviews with the comedians who worked with Clarke. While virtually all have no ill words to say about him, this documentary is no hagiography as we know Clarke never took himself too seriously.
This film shows us a rich tapestry of the great man. Clarke is an undisputed genius of the humble art of comedic skewering, hiding his distrust of authority with a gentle wink and twinkle in his eye. This film proves that Clarke was the best and is sorely missed from the comedy scene. Clarke has left behind some enormous shoes to fill… and we’re not talking about Dagg’s gumboots, cos as we learn, they’re safely locked away in a museum in New Zealand. Ha!
About the Author
Natalie Salvo Natalie is a Sydney-based writer and lover of all things music, food, photography comedy, art, theatre. You can find her digging in crates at good record stores.
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