Romper Stomper (DVD)

As Hando (Crowe), Davey (Pollock, who died tragically soon after the shoot) and the other skinheads clash with the Vietnamese community and defend their "territory” we are given an insight into what might make individuals turn to such an abhorrent lifestyle. This is a film that understands that a problem can’t be tackled without understanding it first. And so Romper Stomper throws us right in the middle of the gang's daily routine and reflects both the excitement that these characters take from their way of life (witness the breathless clash between the skins and Vietnamese halfway through) and also the sense of identity that the gang offers. The gang clearly acts as a kind of surrogate family and fills a void in their otherwise meaningless lives. To the outside world they might not add up to anything, but through their xenophobic ideology they gain a pathetic sense of power and superiority. It's no coincidence that one of the "Canberra mob" leaves to join the Navy, an organisation working with a similar, albeit far less destructive, sense of 'belonging'.

Hando is the clear leader. He may be a vicious psychopath, but he also cares about his gang patching them up when they get hurt, putting them to bed when they pass out drunk and forming all of the decisions. Hando is also the only one who appears to genuinely believe what he's saying. While the others are essentially only there for the violence and companionship, Hando reads up on Mein Kampt and talks of "history" and "white heritage" with frightening self -belief. It's this self-belief that makes Hando such a compelling, unpredictable character to watch, but it is also the spark that ultimately tears the gang apart.

From the uniforms to the racist 'Oi!' songs Romper Stomper is a convincing depiction of subculture, and one that dares to present these figures as real, troubled individuals rather than stereotypes. The film never glorifies or condones their actions - witness the victims’ faces of terror in the opening scene and it's clear that these aren't supposed to be the "good guys". It also maps the self-destruction that a lifestyle built on nihilism inevitably leads to right up to the atmospheric, violent finale.