‘Just a Farmer’ - Home grown movie aims its lens at suicide prevention in the bush
By Krista Schade - May 8, 2024
Farmer Leila McDougall is determined to raise awareness about farmer suicide after "losing too many people."
Hailing from Tatyoon in Victoria McDougall the 35-year-old began writing the feature film during the pandemic when Mellow in the Yellow, an annual music event she organises to promote mental health, was cancelled during lockdown.
The determined mother of two wrote, produced and starred in a feature length film, which also features some of Australia’s best screen talent.
Stars include Robert Taylor, best known for his role in the popular US series ‘Longmire’ , Damian Walshe-Howling, of ‘Underbelly fame and Nathalie Morris who is best known for her break out role as Oly in acclaimed Stan television series ‘Bump’, which established her as one of Australia’s rising stars.
"I really hope that this film makes a difference, I really hope that people will talk about suicide," she said.
"Once someone loses someone to suicide, there's so much silence and there is little support."
Renown movie critic David Stratton said he ‘admired’ the film, and Australian acting royalty Hugh Jackman is a fan, applauding the film publicly.
The film can be screened online for $9.98 for a three-day rental period.
