Jeremy Sims' new film RAMS showcases the unique landscapes of Mount Barker

Filmed in the picturesque Plantagenet region of WA, director Jeremy Sims’ latest motion picture is a compelling story of isolation and belonging. With a diverse filmography including Last Cab to Darwin and Beneath Hill 60, Sims’ newest project RAMS is truly a return to his local roots.

Created in Mount Barker, RAMS was produced by a team mostly based in the region and stars Sam Neill and Michael Caton as feuding sibling sheep farmers. The film is centred around an intriguing dichotomy of personalities which Sims believes is reflected in reality: _"Sam Neill is sophisticated and urbane whereas Michael is a quintessential Queenslander."_ RAMS showcases the many different sides of Mount Barker, from beautiful landscapes to the local pub. While not necessarily intentional Sims describes his filmmaking as being about community and longing. _"You cannot get through life on your own, there is such a thing as society."_ *RAMS stars Sam Neill and Michael Caton* With production cinematography by Steve Arnold and music by Antony Partos the film captures the Australian identity in a unique and captivating way. With a setting in remote WA, according to Sims the expensive production was outweighed by the ‘team’s sense of adventure and the authenticity of the area’. Having run a theatre company for 20 years many of Sims’ projects start off as plays. RAMS however, is based off an Icelandic film of the same name. With a common thread difficult to find between his films, Sims believes that general consensus is that his projects are about protagonists ‘trying to get somewhere else yet not having the tools to knowingly get there’. Overall RAMS is a moving story of an Aussie community that has been produced by one as well. Mount Barker shines and is the perfect backdrop for Sam Neill and Michael Caton to create this uplifting picture of family.

Explore our guide to Mount Barker