20/10/2024
Doin' Alright in Dimboola:
Ranjit Devi, 49, is a kind-hearted but hopeless dreamer who’s left his family in India to "make it" in Australia. Now he's a "blow-in" the rural town of Dimboola, where he’s barely scraping by, driving his worn-out Holden Statesman as an Uber, delivering odd packages for locals, and forever searching for his big break. Ranjit is loveable, despite his constant bungling, and the townsfolk tolerate him—even if he’s always in over his head.
Ranjit’s quiet life takes a sharp turn when he stumbles upon Emma and Leanne, a pair of runaway sisters hiding from their violent ex-boyfriend, a tobacco-smuggling menace known as The Bulgarian. Emma's on the run after crossing paths with The Bulgarian’s illegal operations, while Leanne complicates things even further by stealing a prized Chihuahua from Tiffany Weng, a ruthless Chinese art dealer who’s also hunting for a missing Sidney Nolan painting rumored to be hidden in Dimboola.
As chaos unfolds, Ranjit’s life becomes entangled with an eccentric cast of characters. There’s Marj, the cricket-loving postal clerk who’s always had a soft spot for Ranjit. Her no-nonsense attitude and sharp tongue prove useful as she helps Ranjit stay afloat. Then there’s Stew, a stoner mechanic with cosmic wisdom who sells Ranjit the Holden Statesman and insists the car has “special powers.” And of course, Kevin, the all-seeing publican, who offers a mix of bemusement and cosmic insight from his perch behind the bar, watching as Ranjit’s plans unravel.
Desperate to raise enough money to help Emma and Leanne escape, Ranjit hatches an outrageous plan: host a big gay Bollywood Wedding party as a Kickstarter fundraiser. With the help of Dimboola’s quirky townsfolk—including a couple looking to turn the event into their own wedding—the party quickly spirals out of control. What starts as a modest gathering at the Rotary Club soon snowballs into a chaotic spectacle, complete with farmers in half-assed Bollywood costumes, drunken brawls, and cosmic events beyond Ranjit’s understanding.
When The Bulgarian crashes the party in a fit of rage, and Tiffany Weng arrives to reclaim her stolen dog and the lost painting, Ranjit finds himself in way over his head. But with the unexpected help of his "cosmic" Holden Statesman and the town rallying behind him, Ranjit just might bumble his way to becoming the unlikely hero Dimboola didn’t know it needed.
Blending Fargo and Muriel's Wedding vibes with Breaking Bad tension, Doing Alright in Dimboola is a wild ride through rural Australia, mixing dark comedy, cosmic chaos, and unexpected heroism into an unforgettable adventure.
And there’s more excitement on the horizon! Julien Poulson, writer and conceptualiser of Doing Alright in Dimboola, is currently in town, coinciding his scriptwriting mission with this weekend's Dimboola Agricultural Society Show. Immersing himself in the lively atmosphere of this rural fair, Julien is drawing inspiration for the script and even casting ideas from the local characters and events. Word on the street is, he’s "doin' alright in Dimboola"... and there's even talk that The Cambodian Space Project might make a cameo as the wedding band in this wild new movie!
Shooting begins April 2025 to coincide with The Wimmera Steampunk Festival in Dimboola. Stay tuned!
