Melbourne in winter… Rain. Wind. Pubs. Beer. Sex. Corruption. Murder.

Based on international award-winning crime writer Peter Temple's novel Bad Debts and directed by Jeffrey Walker, Jack Irish - Bad Debts is the first in a series of films that burrows into the seedier side of Melbourne.

Jack Irish (Guy Pearce) is a former criminal lawyer, collector of uncollectable debts, football lover, punter, trainee cabinetmaker and sometime lover. The complete man, really. A phone call from former client Danny McKillop (Simon Russell) doesn't ring any bells. But then Danny turns up dead, and Jack has to take a walk back into the dark and dangerous past.

A stellar supporting cast of Aaron Pedersen, Colin Friels, Shane Jacobson, Marta Dusseldorp, Steve Bisley, Roy Billing and many others help shape the many pieces of this intricate underworld puzzle.

Jeffrey Walker is a guest of the festival.

Rated MA15+

D Jeffrey Walker P Ian Collie S Andrew Knight Dist ABC Commercial TD HD Cam/2012

See the film and read the book; browse online at Readings.

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