What to expect from Paul Henry's bizarre feature film The Desk

When word spread that a feature film starring Paul Henry was to premiere at an international film festival, the news was met with surprise, amusement and confusion. Just when did he make this feature film? And what exactly is he doing in it? Is he acting?

Having seen the film, that confusion hasn't entirely lifted.

What begins as a short film, starring Paul Henry as himself (he is acting but in the same way that he acts up any time a camera is on him), slowly morphs into a documentary about one man's mid-life crisis. Not Henry's. Rather, former New York Times journalist Andrew Goldman, who is struggling with a series of career crises that eventually see him sacked.

Goldman begins the film in the role of director, making a short film about Henry and himself, played by an actor. But as his mid-life crisis takes hold and Goldman begins questioning his very existence, he turns the camera on himself and abandons the short film project.

As you can see, confusing.

It is, at times, quite the pity party for Goldman, who sees himself as the ultimate victim. The victim of social media and a changing media landscape. The victim of declining standards of independent journalism. The victim of a dead mother.

A naive Goldman is shocked by revelations that have been long accepted as standard in the global print industry.

Henry really has nothing to do with it. But without him, this film would be insufferable. Henry provides the comic relief and intrigue that make this befuddling mess of a film really, quite entertaining. You will still leave the theatre confused but at least you'll be confused and amused.

The Desk

Director: Andrew Goldman
Starring: Andrew Goldman, Paul Henry

•The Desk screens at the Doco Edge festival, Q Theatre, tonight at 10pm and throughout the festival.

- TimeOut