West of Sunshine 2019

Jimmy, a courier with a penchant for scruffy hair and tattoos, is drowning in debt, thanks to Banos, the formidable owner of a car repair shop who’s been breathing down his neck since Jimmy’s working days. The clock is ticking, as Jimmy has mere hours to cough up $15,000 or face the consequences, which he’d rather not contemplate. His mind is preoccupied with the upcoming horse race at Ballarat, where he’s got his heart set on a winning bet. With Steve, another courier in tow, Jimmy picks up his son Alex from his ex-wife Karen’s house, reluctantly assuming responsibility for the pre-pubescent youngster.

As they embark on their daily routine, Jimmy’s tardiness becomes apparent, prompting him to juggle his priorities between work and family commitments. The 1968 Ford Fairlane, a treasured possession passed down from his father, serves as a symbol of nostalgia and a constant reminder of his past. Alex, with an air of disdain, accompanies Jimmy on their rounds, consistently defying his instructions and testing the limits of his patience.

As they complete their deliveries, Jimmy’s anxiety reaches a boiling point, and he finds himself torn between the demands of work and his personal life. The Fairlane becomes an extension of his daily routine, with Alex getting an insider’s look at Melbourne’s bustling business districts. A pit stop at a suburban hotel provides a welcome respite, where Jimmy and Steve place their bets on the winning horse, leaving Jimmy with a substantial sum to settle his debts.

However, Jimmy’s inability to resist temptation leads him down a path of reckless spending, resulting in a desperate plea for help from Steve, who’s been burned by similar experiences. With options dwindling, Jimmy offers the Fairlane to a used-car dealer, only to have a change of heart when he realizes what he’s about to sacrifice. Alex, now an unwitting accomplice, joins his father on a spontaneous drive, leaving their troubles momentarily behind.

In this precarious state, Steve turns to Mel, a friend from his past who’s since prospered with a small bakery. Mel offers Steve a loan, but only if he agrees to make some deliveries for her, which Steve hesitantly accepts. As Jimmy and Alex continue on their journey, they’re unaware of the consequences that await them, or the secrets that will soon be revealed.

As Jimmy indulges in a sweet treat at a roadside ice cream vendor, his trusty companion Alex can’t resist the temptation to pilfer some of the cold delight. However, Jimmy’s keen senses are immediately alerted to the sticky situation, prompting him to hasten back to the car and insist that Alex regurgitate the ill-gotten gains. This sudden display of transparency leads to a heart-to-heart between the two friends, ultimately mending their fractured bond.

In a subsequent showdown, Jimmy confronts Banos with the meager sum he’s managed to scrape together, only to be met with a signal from the cunning adversary to his henchmen. As Jimmy lies helpless on the ground, subjected to a brutal beating and merciless kicking, Banos surprisingly intervenes, ordering his minions to cease their torment. This unexpected turn of events allows Jimmy to regain his footing, whereupon he relinquishes ownership of the car to Banos in a symbolic act of surrender.

As night begins to fall, Jimmy pedals away from the chaos on a humble pushbike, with Alex perched precariously on the handlebars. Upon arriving at his ex-wife’s residence, Jimmy is greeted by his mother, who inquires about the day’s events. With an unbridled enthusiasm, he declares, “It was the best day ever,” a testament to the transformative power of self-reflection and redemption.