Aussie acting legend, John Jarratt will present his third feature What About Sal? in 2024. Starring award-winning actor Gerard O’Dwyer, the film is set to be the feel-good movie of the year. What About Sal? is a heart-warming story about a young man in his thirties with Down syndrome who lives with his mother and discovers she is dying from lung cancer with only months to
live. What follows is a journey to find his estranged rock musician father whom his mother has vague memories of after a one-night stand that resulted in Sal.

The dramedy was inspired by a chance encounter at a Rabbitohs versus Manly rugby game. “I was at the footy and I noticed this young exuberant Down syndrome man in front of us. Every time we scored; it was like he’d found Mecca.” Said John Jarratt, Writer and Director. “Later I said to my mate, ‘I wonder what would happen if his mother passed away and he had nobody’ and I immediately knew I had a film and knew just the actor to be in it.”

Gerard O’Dwyer is an award-winning actor in his own right having won Best Actor at Tropfest for Be My Brother (2009) and The Interviewer (2013) at RealHeART International Film Festival. He shares the screen with Jarratt who plays his rock ’n’ roll Dad and the two worked closely together on the story to ensure they captured the nuances of the Down syndrome world just right. Kaarin Fairfax who plays his mother was in Jarratt’s debut feature film StalkHer (2015) and is also known for the TV series Bed Of Roses (1996).

John Jarratt has been one of Australia’s best known and respected film, television and theatre stars since 1974. He has more than 100 professional film and television credits and achieved international acclaim for his roles in Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975), Wolf Creek (2005), Australia (2008), and Django Unchained (2012). Jarratt made his directorial debut in Savages Crossing (2008) and then with the rom-com thriller StalkHer in 2015.

The film has been executive produced by Jarratt and the highly regarded Anne Bruning whose professional credits include working alongside award-winning directors Baz Luhrmann, James Wan, Sir Peter Jackson, Bruce Beresford and now John Jarratt. Her film credits include Elvis (2023), San Andreas (2015), Aquaman (2018), The Wolverine (2013), I, Frankenstein (2014), The Lovely Bones (2009) and many more.

A special preview of What about Sal? in support of Down Syndrome NSW was held at Hoyts, Entertainment Centre, Moore Park, Sydney on the 25 March 2024. Emily Caska, CEO of Down Syndrome NSW, says, “This film plays a crucial role in shedding light on a pressing concern within the Down syndrome community. Historically, individuals with Down syndrome faced a limited
life expectancy of 20 to 30 years, but advancements have extended their lifespans to match those of the general population. However, this progress brings forth a new challenge: the potential for these individuals to outlive their primary caregivers, predominantly their parents. This film adeptly tackles this dilemma, emphasising the urgent need for comprehensive support systems for individuals with Down syndrome.”

What about Sal? premieres at the Dendy Newtown on the 18 April 2024 and opens on the 19 April at the Dendy Cinemas in Canberra, Coorparoo, Newtown, Portside,
Powerhouse, and Southport! What About Sal? will also be featured in screenings and Q&A sessions at Supanova in Melbourne on Saturday, 6 April 2024 and Supanova on the Gold Coast on Saturday, 13 April 2024.