"Strange Bedfellows" clearly represents an important aspect of urban Australian culture - mateship. Ralph agrees to help Vince and pretend to be a gay couple even though they live in a close-minded, slightly homophobic little country town. It is also about the importance of family and friends, being yourself, accepting change, and two Aussie blokes getting in touch with their feminine side.
The colloquial and Aussie slang in the movie presents an image of the typical Aussie town, where everything is casual. The language is not very polished or even grammatically correct sometimes but that all shows Australia as it is; a laid back country. Eg. Bitch, cow - are the first words spoken by Vince complaining about his ex-wife who has left him with a heap of tax debts to pay.
Initially Vince and Ralph are both adamantly a man's man who are against gayness - especially Ralph. Ironically, Ralph's daughter is gay herself.
Ralph Paglia
Strange Bedfellows (2004 film)
Ralph, Rachel and Sarah Paglia with Ralph Sr.Throughout the whole movie Vince and Ralph are learning to be more accepting and understanding of those who are different to them. This is reminiscent of all Australians.
'Strange Bedfellows' was situated in a small country town of Yackandandah. The reason why the director Dean Murphy decided to film the movie there was because he grew up near there and was familiar with that area. He knew what reactions the community would have towards a couple like Ralph and Vince and he brought that knowledge to his film. He also knew the overall attitudes and behaviours of people living in a small town like Yackandandah.
The response of the country people of Yackandandah to the urban gay community is typical of Australian society. Judgment is never passed, even though the rural folk might see the gays as "weird," while the gays might view the country...