Background Reading Part 1: The Combination
An important part of understanding South West Sydney is trying to understand the complex social situations that emerge from its different areas, and the impacts of these situations. In our two part series on the history of the South West, we draw on important documentaries and films that seek to present an accurate portrayal of the conflicts within South Western Sydney.
The Combination has long been one of my all-time favourite films, not only for being a excellently well-made film, but for the important subject matter which it addresses: the on-going violence within youth in the Bankstown area. The film not only presents a well-informed portrayal, but also explores many commonly-ignored aspects, such as family life, peer pressure and culture. Much of the movie also comes from an insider perspective – director George Basha is an Australian-Lebanese film-maker, whose experiences growing up in Australia largely influenced much of the film.
South West Is Best 