|lower_house = [[House of Representatives of Satavia|House of Representatives]]
|sovereignty_type = Independence from [[Estmere]]
|established_event1 = [[Dominion of Satavia|Federation]] and [[Constitution of Satavia|Constitution]]
|established_date1 = 1 October 1816
|established_event2 = [[Satavia Act]]
|established_date2 = 23 September 1936
|established_event3 =[[Constitution of Satavia|Current constitution]]
|established_date3 =17 December 1976
|established_event4 =
|established_date4 =
|established_event5 =
|established_date5 =
|established_event6 =
|established_date6 =
|area_km2 = 600,105
|population_estimate =
|population_estimate_year =
|population_census = 24,581,912
|population_census_year =2022
|population_density_km2 =40.96
|GDP_nominal = $479 billion
|GDP_nominal_year = 2022
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $19,500
|GDP_PPP = $719 billion
|GDP_PPP_year = 2022
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $29,250
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
|Gini =37.9
|Gini_change =increase
|Gini_year =2018
|HDI =0.838
|HDI_year = 2018
|HDI_change = decrease
|currency =[[Satavian guilder]]
|currency_code = SVG
|time_zone =[[Satavian Standard Time]]
|utc_offset = + 11
|date_format = dd.mm.yyyy
|drives_on = right
|cctld = .sv
|calling_code = +51
}}
}}
'''Satavia''', officially the '''Satavian Federation''', is an {{wpl|island country}} in western [[Asteria Inferior]] comprising the island of Satavia and several outlying islands. Satavia shares a {{wpl|maritime border}} with [[Nuvania]] across the [[Van Horn Strait]]. Satavia is the smallest country in Asteria Inferior by land area and third smallest by population, but maintains the highest GDP per capita and living standards on the continent. Satavia is a {{wpl|federal}} {{wpl|parliamentary}} {{wpl|constitutional republic}}, consisting of six provinces, two territories and one {{wpl|dependent territory}} in {{wpl|free association}} with Satavia, the [[Patrick Islands]].{{Refn|group="N"|Satavia maintains the islands are in free association; the position taken by the [[Community of Nations]] is that the islands are a non-self-governing dependency.}} Satavia's capital, largest city and primary economic centre is [[Port Hope]], whilst other major cities include [[Burnaby]], [[Fort Dent]], [[Northport]], [[Port Arthur]] and [[Victoriaburg]].
'''The Depression Club''' ({{wpl|stylised}} as '''thedepressionclub''') is a 2023 [[Satavia|Satavian]] {{wpl|television film|television}} {{wpl|psychological drama}} directed and produced by [[Daniël Jaco]] and featuring an ensemble cast of Satavian actors. The film focuses on the lives of several unrelated individuals, brought together by attendance at a peer-led mutual aid group for people suffering with depression. The film examines themes of {{wpl|anxiety}}, {{wpl|depression}}, {{wpl|self-harm}}, {{wpl|substance abuse}}, {{wpl|suicide}} and other {{wpl|social issues}}.
The first human habitation of the island began some 38,000 years ago, and they are the ancestors of modern {{wpl|indigenous|Indigenous Satavians}}. Despite the advancements of neighbouring indigenous peoples in Asteria Inferior, native groups within Satavia remained relatively primitive, avoiding contact with other tribal groups such as those in Nuvania, but nonetheless lived in general harmony with one another. Satavia is believed to have been first discovered sometime in 1512 by [[Johannes van Twiller]], however, it was [[Álvaro de Mascarenhas]] who first recorded the existence of the landmass in 1533, believing it to be an extension of the Asterian mainland. [[Jan van Breybach]] was the first to correctly identify Satavia as a separate island, landing at Sandy Cove in 1541, claiming the land for [[Hennehouwe]] and establishing the city that would eventually become Port Hope as the capital of the [[Dolphin Bay Colony]].
The film was a production of the [[Satavian Broadcasting Corporation]]. It received funding from the SBC, {{wpl|National Lottery}}, as well as from various charities aimed at {{wpl|suicide prevention}} and {{wpl|suicide intervention|intervention}}. The film was created to increase public awareness about Satavia's "{{wpl|suicide rate|silent epidemic}}", which has seen the {{wpl|suicide rate}} in Satavia rise to 20.1 (approximately double the global average), giving Satavia the highest suicide rate in the Asterias and the [[Kylaris|13th highest in the world]]. In particular, Jaco stated the film was aimed at young men who are disproportionately affected by suicide. The film premiered at the [[Montecara Film Festival]] in October 2023 and was first aired on Satavian television on 3 November. Due to its themes and mature content , the film was awarded an {{wpl|age classification}} of 18 in Satavia and was consequently shown after {{wpl|Watershed (broadcasting)|watershed}} on [[Satavian Broadcasting Corporation|SBC 1]]. Additionally, the SBC broadcast the film with an added disclaimer warning that it contained "extremely distressing and graphic scenes".
Hennish colonisation continued for the next two hundred years, albeit at a slower pace than in neighbouring Nuvania. [[Victoriaburg|Fort Zilverzee]] was founded in 1611 at the site of modern-day [[Victoriaburg]], whilst further north the Hennish established the [[Krokodillenrivier Kolonie]] with its capital in [[Kaapburg]], which would later become part of [[Port Arthur]]. The last of the Hennish colonies, the [[Orange Colony|Oranjekolonie]] was established in 1712. Following the Hennish defeat in the [[War of 1747]], Hennehouwe ceded the Satavian Colonies and Nuvania to [[Estmere]]. Following Estmere's acquisition of Satavia, immigration to the island increased and Estmerish settlers soon began to outnumber the local Hennish. As the [[Dolphin Bay Colony]] expanded, new colonies were carved out in accordance; [[Colony of Maria|Maria]] in 1750, the [[East River Colony]] in 1753 and [[New Borland]] in 1790. Meanwhile, the western side of Satavia evolved separately; the [[Longwood Colony]] was founded in 1764, [[Breeze River Colony]] in 1768, [[Queen's Colony]] in 1770 and the [[Arundel River Colony]] in 1775. [[User:Norcandy/Sandbox/Pienaar's Revolt|Following a major revolt on the frontier of the Dolphin Bay colony]] and several other minor revolts, primarily by the {{wpl|Afrikaner|Asteriaaners}}, the descendants of the original Hennish settlers, Estmere began preparations to grant the colonies responsible government. In 1798, several minor Western colonies united to become the [[Western Confederation]]. In 1813, the [[Crocodile River Colony]] joined to become [[Western Satavia]] and participated in the [[Federation of Satavia|Federation Talks of 1812-1815]], but ultimately withdrew after their concerns that power would be concentrated in the east of the country. In 1816, responsible government and {{wpl|dominion}} status was conferred upon Satavia when five colonies federated to become provinces within Satavia (Western Satavia continued to remain independent of Satavia until 1838). Satavia remained a dominion for the next 120 years and was the last of Estmere's dominions to declare independence when the aftermath of the [[Great War (Kylaris)|Great War]] saw the Estmerish monarchy abolished and the last of Satavia's legal links to Estmere ended. Satavia was occupied by Nuvania during the Great War and after its [[Defence of Port Hope|rapid surrender following the capture of Port Hope]], Satavian forces fought a long and gruelling guerrilla campaign for the duration of the war.
==Plot==
The film opens during a {{wpl|tropical storm}}; we see Tom Shaw ([[Satavia|Ashton Lynes]]), a handsome, dishevelled, 20-year old, walking hurriedly. As he walks through the streets, people around him rush to escape the rain; prominently featured is an advertisement warning of {{wpl|bulimia}} in teenage girls, which then swaps to a [[Top Dog]] advert depicting a teenage girl eating a large combination meal. As he approaches a derelict warehouse, he stops and takes a breath before pushing the door open and entering. The room is poorly lit and laid out with plastic deck chairs. Tom exchanges glances with the others in the room, before The Therapist ([[Gaullica|Edouard Florence]]) asks everyone to be seated and beckons for Tom to introduce himself. As Tom speaks, we see his childhood memories; we see Young Tom Shaw ([[Satavia|Phoenix Turner]]) at school where he is a member of the {{wpl|Rugby union|First XV rugby team}} and obviously popular, but struggles academically. As he returns home we see his father, who is {{wpl|under the influence of drugs}}, physically abusing his mother and then turning his anger on Young Tom Shaw. Tom Shaw remembers how he was set-up for a promising rugby career; he signs a professional contract on his 18th birthday and goes out to celebrate. Whilst drunk, he gets into a physical fight with his father, before stealing his father's car and crashes into another vehicle on a bridge. He remembers stumbling out of the car, and otherwise reveals nothing further.
In 1939, three years following the proclamation of the [[Union of Satavia]], members of the [[Satavian Army|Army]] launched a [[February Coup|coup d'état]] that overthrew the democratically elected government and ended over 120 years of stable democratic rule. The [[National Party (Satavia)|National Dictatorship]] would rule Satavia for nearly four decades before its removal by members of the [[Hope Province|Hope Province Provincial Guard]] in [[1976 Satavian coup d'état|September 1976]].
The camera now pans to the man seated next to Tom Shaw; 39 year old, Carter Arnold ([[Satavia|Pieter Dunbarr]]). Arnold talks and reminisces of his childhood; we see Young Carter Arnold ([[Satavia|Dane Coles]]) excel at school work and grow up in a privileged and loving background, attending a {{wpl|private school}}. He marries his childhood sweetheart, and with her has two daughters. He rises through the ranks of the law firm he works at and is already a Senior Partner. We see Arnold, his wife and two children celebrating his daughter's eight birthday in a restaurant, before Arnold drives them home. They stop at a traffic light; as it turns green, Arnold leisurely accelerates away, only to be broadsided by another vehicle. Despite his blury vision and shock, Arnold turns around to check on his children, both of whom are unhurt; his wife, however, is slumped in the passenger seat, dead. He tells how the driver of the other vehicle was drunk, and that since his wife's death he has struggled with a drinking problem of his own, which combined with the challenges of raising two daughters has lead him to spiral into a state of depression.
Since the restoration of democracy in 1976, Satavia has seen relative economic prosperity, but in recent years rising {{wpl|cost of living}}, increasing {{wpl|income inequality}} and {{wpl|government debt|rising national debt}} have created divides within the country. Satavia also continues to deal with its complex history, including the near-wipeout of the indigenous population and subsequent issues stemming from the theft of native land and indigenous rights during a period known as the [[Great Shame]]. Satavia is a member of [[ASTCOM]], the [[Community of Nations]], [[Embrosphere]], [[International Council for Democracy]], [[Organization of Asterian Nations]] and is an associate member of the [[North Vehemens Organization]].
Charli Whitford , a 45 year-old housewife, now tells her story. She talks about her husband - who is signifciantly older than her - and that she fell deeply in love with him twenty years prior. We see her as Young Charli Whitford ([[Satavia|Indiana Rhodes]]) being she says that despite the fact he had four previous marriages, their marriage had always been loving and happy - and was his longest by far. However, two weeks ago she discovered that he was having an affair with a much younger woman, and was heartbroken. She says she has begun to struggle with her self-worth, and that she felt trapped in what had become a loveless marriage; she says she felt unsafe to tell him about her knowledge of his infidelity, because she was afraid of how he would respond.
==Etymology==
[''re-write of the following is pending, probably, although the plot remains the same'']
The name ''Satavia'' is derived from the {{wpl|Chibcha}} personal name ''Sátiva''. Chibcha-speaking peoples lived around the area where Jan van Breybach first landed at Sandy Cove, and in 1658, Markus Winkelhock wrote that the name was given to Jan van Breybach during his first meeting with indigenous people and incorrectly assumed to be the name of the island.<ref name="De Asterische Kolonies">{{cite book| last1 = Winkelhock | first1 = Markus | title = De Asterische Kolonies | location = s'Holle | publisher = | date = 1658}}</ref> The name ''Satavia'' was seldom used to refer to the island until the 1760s;<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 1/5">{{Cite book |last=Elliot |first=Jago |author1-link=Jago Elliot |title=SATAVIA, Volume I: Before the Storm |year=2018 |publisher= |location= |isbn= |url= }}</ref> prior to that date, the island as a whole was usually simply referred to by the separate colonies, or as a part of the ''Hennish Asterias'' and later ''Estmerish Asterias''. By 1800, however, the island and the colonies located on the island were usually collectively referred to as ''Estmerish Satavia'' or simply ''Satavia''.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 1/5"/> When the Western Confederation joined together with the Crocodile River Colony in 1813 they became known as Western Satavia; the federation of the other five colonies in 1816 saw the eastern half become known as the Dominion of Satavia.
==History==
Jack talks about his blissfully happy childhood on a rural farm; riding horses and looking after cattle. Attending a school in the village, he became best friends with another boy - unnamed. When he was 13, he began feeling - as he explains - that perhaps it was more than friendship. Aged 16, he begins a secret affair with the boy. However, a few months ago, his father caught him and said boy engaging in a sexual act. He is kicked out of his house and forced to wander. He faces ostracising from his community, and the other boy ignores him when he begs him to come with him. He wanders down the road, trying to hitch hike, through sun and wet weather. He arrives in the city, and begins abusing substances and self-harming in his tent under an underpass.
{{main|History of Satavia}}
===Prehistory===
Human habitation of Satavia began some 38,000 years ago.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 1/5"/><ref name="The Satavian Natives">{{Cite book |last=Daniël |first=Mackenzie |author1-link= |title=The Natives: Satavia's indigenous population |year=1981 |publisher= Birdstone Press|location=Morwall |isbn= |url= }}</ref> Satavia's indigenous population was primarily comprised of three groups; {{wpl|Arawak}}, {{wpl|Caribe}} and {{wpl|Chibcha}} peoples, with the Caribe and Chibcha being by far the most numerous.<ref name="The Satavian Natives"/> Satavia's indigenous population remained primitive despite the advancements of the native populations of other neighbouring Asterian nations, primarily due to their isolation by the Van Horn Strait.<ref name="The Satavian Natives"/><ref name="Advancements of Indigenous peoples">{{Cite journal |last=Lewisham |first=Mary |author1-link= |title=Advancements of the Arawak, Caribe and Chibcha|year=1974 |publisher= United Publishing Corporation (UPC)|location=Port Hope |isbn= |url= }}</ref> Many pre-historic sites, such as those of the Arawak in the [[Orange Province]], were destroyed during the genocide of Satavia's indigenous people in a period now known as the Great Shame.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 1/5"/><ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5">{{Cite book |last=Elliot |first=Jago |author1-link=Jago Elliot |title=SATAVIA, Volume III: 1747 to 1936|year=2020 |publisher= |location= |isbn= |url= }}</ref> As a result, and coupled with the natural hostility that existed between the colonists and natives, there is little remaining historical evidence of indigenous practices in Satavia.<ref name="The Satavian Natives"/><ref name="Advancements of Indigenous peoples"/> However, it is known from contemporary accounts by Hennish settlers that, unlike in neighbouring Nuvania, all of the indigenous groups were {{wpl|hunter-gatherers}}.<ref name="De Asterische Kolonies"/> Satavia's last {{wpl|uncontacted peoples}}, located deep within the [[Central Territory|Central Territories]] was contacted in 1924.<ref name="Chibcha people contacted in CT">{{cite news| last = Clarke | first = Caleb | title = Rogue Chibcha peoples contacted in CT; isolated due to health concerns | pages = | newspaper = The Hope Post | location = Port Hope | date=12 July 1924 | url = https://www.hopepost.co.sv/archive/128982412132}}</ref> Despite reports of uncontacted tribal people living within the Central Territory surfacing as late as 2020,<ref name="Savages living in the CT">{{cite news| last = De Ruyter | first = Carlos | title = Pictured: "Uncontacted peoples" living like savages in the Central Territory | pages = | newspaper = The Daily Mail | location = Northport | date=23 February 2020 | url = https://www.dailymail.co.sv/news/19981921193}}</ref> the existence of further uncontacted tribes has been ruled out as unlikely partly due to Satavia's rapid deforestation and urbanisation leaving no significant free land that has been uncharted by modern civilisation.<ref name="The Satavian Natives"/> Just 181,271 people (or 0.74%) of Satavia's population identified as descendants of Indigenous Asterians in the 2022 census.<ref name="2022 Satavian census">{{cite web|url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Satavia#Demographics |date= 25 October 2022 |title=Satavian Federal Census 2022 |work=Government of Satavia |access-date= 18 July 2023}}</ref>
===Euclean exploration and colonisation===
Leo is simply a lonely old man. He talks briefly of his life, much of it lead on his own. He briefly mentions a young love, but volunteers no further information. He is very quiet and shielded.
{{main|Hennish Satavia}}
[[File:King George Sound 1833.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Crew of Gaullican ship ''La Zélée'' making contact with natives nearby modern-day Port Arthur, 1593]]
It is widely accepted that the first recorded sighting of Satavia was by [[Johannes van Twiller]] in 1512; however, Van Twiller incorrectly identified Satavia as an extension to the Asterian landmass and as such failed to record the existence of the island.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 1/5"/> [[Álvaro de Mascarenhas]] first recorded the existence of Satavia, but too believed it to be an extension of the Asterian landmass.<ref name="Álvaro de Mascarenhas biography">{{Cite book |last=Gomes dos Santos Aveiro |first=João |author1-link= |title=Álvaro de Mascarenhas: The Life and Adventures of the Greatest Explorer of them All|year=2014 |publisher= |location=Precea |isbn= |url= }}</ref> It was Jan van Breybach who first landed at [[Port Hope|Sandy Cove]] in 1541 and would later confirm his suspicion that Satavia was an island and not an extension of Asteria Inferior.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 2/5">{{Cite book |last=Elliot |first=Jago |author1-link=Jago Elliot |title=SATAVIA, Volume II: The Hennish|year=2019 |publisher= |location= |isbn= |url= }}</ref> Whilst in the service of the [[Asterian Company]] (AK), Van Breybach began the first efforts to settle and colonise Satavia. In 1560, Van Breybach established a new settlement north of Sandy Cove at [[Bendburg]] and six years later at [[Sikostad]] on the banks of [[Lake Kapivlei]].<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 2/5"/> Sikostad was the sight of the [[Sikostad Massacre]] in 1567, where an unknown group of indigenous Satavians attacked the city, massacring much of the local population - including Jan van Breybach.<ref name="The Satavian Natives"/><ref name="SATAVIA (History) 2/5"/><ref name="Native Danger">{{Cite book |last=Verwoerd |first=Hendrik |author1-link= |title=Native Danger|year=2007 |publisher= University Press |location=Port Hope |isbn= |url= }}</ref> Following the massacre, the Hennish carried out brutal reprisals across the modern-day [[Hope Province]] that saw the beginning of the [[Great Native Wars]], a low-level conflict invariably described as a genocide<ref name="The Satavian Natives"/><ref name="Advancements of Indigenous peoples"/><ref name="Native Danger"/> or as a frontier war.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 2/5"/> In 1611, the Hennish government sent a fleet of ships to the Asterias in order to settle on the western side of the island, arriving at [[Fort Zilverzee]] (modern-day Victoriaburg). The aim of the new port city was to provide a stop-over for vessels heading from [[Coius]] and [[Sublustria]] on their way to the Asterias; and in 1673, a combination of Hennish settlers and [[Gaullica|Gaullican]] {{wpl|hugenots}} arrived in Satavia settled at the mouth of the [[Crocodile River]], establishing the city of Kaapburg; which would eventually become part of [[Port Arthur]].<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 2/5"/> The final Hennish colony to be established, the [[Oranjekolonie]], was settled in 1712. Hennish exploration was relatively limited; mainly keeping to the costal areas, except in the Dolphin Bay Colony where colonists settled up to the [[East River]] and further North were limited to the boundaries of the [[River Pelham]].<ref name="Hennish in the Asterias">{{Cite book |last=Peereboom |first=Thijs |author1-link= |title=De Hennish in Asteria|year=1973 |publisher= |location=s'Holle |isbn= |url= }}</ref>
Whilst there were several opportunities to establish colonies further in land, or on Satavia's southern coast, these were mostly ruled out for two primary reasons; the ferocity of native tribes around [[Lake Taxaroga]] and the [[Rogue River]],<ref name="The Satavian Natives"/><ref name="Native Danger"/> and the prioritisation of the colonisation of Nuvania by the Hennish government.<ref name="Colonisation of Nuvania">{{Cite book |last=Bishorst |first=Lodewijk |author1-link= |title=Colonising Nuvania: The Great Unknown|year=1988 |publisher= Die Vrystaat Publishing Group |location=Pietersburg |isbn= |url= }}</ref>
[[File:Satavia in 1771.png|thumb|right|250px|The Satavian colonies in 1771, on the eve of Pienaar's Revolt]]
Jannie is an alcoholic construction worker. He talks about his drinking, and the desire and need to have alcohol. He talks passionately about his daughter; the only picture he has is of her as a child. He talks about her being taken away from him by child services when she was 9. She must be 20 now, he says. The child’s mother has never been in the picture.
Following the Estmerish defeat during the [[Estmero-Hennish War of 1747]], the Satavian colonies were ceded to Estmere. The Estmerish acquisition of the colonies saw the launch of a population boom that was coupled with huge territorial growth along the coast of the whole island; new colonies sprang up, many of them launched by various different {{wpl|private companies}} such as the [[Longwood Colonial Company]].<ref name="The Longwood Company">{{Cite book |last=Hope |first=Richard |author1-link= |title=The Longwood Company: A complete history|year=1979 |publisher= Birdstone Press |location=Morwall |isbn= |url= }}</ref> As settler numbers increased, new colonies on the eastern coast were carved out of the Dolphin Bay colony; [[Colony of Maria|Maria]] in 1750, the [[East River Colony]] in 1753 and the [[New Borland|New Territories]] in 1759.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5"/> Meanwhile, the western areas of Satavia experienced equal population growth; the Crocodile River Colony experienced huge growth and soon eclipsed Fort Zilverzee in both population and territory, whilst other colonies such as the [[Breeze River Colony]] were established in 1768 and [[Queen's Colony]] in 1770. By 1770, the Satavian colonies had expanded rapidly, and the number of Estmerish settlers soon began to match the Hennish settlers. It was around this time that the Hennish settlers began identifying as {{wpl|afrikaners|Asteriaaners}} for the first time.<ref name="The Asteriaaners">{{Cite book |last=Malan |first=D. F. |author1-link= |title=The Asteriaaners: The Hennish on the wrong continent|year=2000 |publisher= Birdstone Press |location=Morwall |isbn= |url= }}</ref> In 1771, the [[User:Norcandy:Sandbox/Pienaar's Revolt|first and most signifcant major revolt]] launched by Asteriaaners began on the frontier of the Dolphin Bay Colony began following the death of an Estmerish Magistrate at the hands of a group of Asteriaaner farmers.<ref name="Pienaar's Revolt">{{Cite book |last=Snow |first=Dan |author1-link= |title=Pienaar's Revolt|year=2016 |publisher= Birdstone Press |location=Morwall |isbn= |url= }}</ref> The revolt, which was primarily centred around the rights of the Asteriaaners, resistence to Estmerish anti-slavery laws, competing land claims with new Estmerish settlers and resistance to taxation without representation set in motion the [[Federation of Satavia|Federation of the Satavian colonies]] and {{wpl|home rule}}.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5"/><ref name="The Asteriaaners"/><ref name="Pienaar's Revolt"/> Despite Estmere's violent suppression of the revolt, Estmere soon began offering concessions shortly afterwards. The [[Arundel River Colony]] was established in 1775, four years following the revolt, and was populated almost exclusively by Asteriaaners, many of whom had left the Dolphin Bay Colony following the fallout of the revolt.<ref name="The Asteriaaners"/><ref name="Pienaar's Revolt"/> In 1790, the New Territories were divided between Maria and a new {{wpl|penal colony}}, [[New Borland]] was formed. Meanwhile, in 1798, the Estmerish government ended the charters given to the private companies who had set up colonies on Satavia's west coast, and several were merged to form the [[Western Confederation]].<ref name="Second Empire book">{{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=William |author1-link= |title=The Second Empire|year=1973 |publisher= Birdstone Press |location=Morwall |isbn= |url= }}</ref> Serious suggestions of a united federation of colonies was first considered in the early 1800s, but faced stiff resistance - particularly from the leaders of the Orange Colony, Arundel and the three western colonies - who were fearful that a new, singular colony would have its power centred in the now predominantly-Estmerish Dolphin Bay colony.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5"/> Representatives from the western colonies arrived in Morwall in 1808 with the hopes of securing a deal with Estmere that would allow for responsible government without the prerequisite of forming a united federation of colonies.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5"/> This was, however, denied by the government of [[Richard Lascelles, Earl of Allerton|Lord Allerton]] who were insistent that home rule could only be achieved if the Satavian colonies federated.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5"/> The Estmerish government had been swayed by [[Theodore Howard]], the pro-federation [[User:Norcandy/Sandbox/Governor of the Hope Province|Govervor of the Dolphin Bay Colony]], that it was not only economically sensible but administratively easier to unite the colonies into one singular administrative unit.<ref name="Federation Journal">{{Cite journal |last=O'Hanrahanrahan |first=Peter |author1-link= |title=Federation of Satavia as a case study for advanced engineering|year=2012 |publisher= United Publishing Corporation (UPC)|location=Port Hope |isbn= |url= }}</ref>
===Federation and nation building===
Once everyone has stopped talking, the therapist thanks all for being there. He talks a little. He thanks everyone for coming.
{{main|Federation of Satavia|Great Shame|Satavia during the Great War}}
[[File:Satavia in 1816.png|thumb|right|250px|The Satavian colonies in 1816, following Federation]]
By 1811, the concept of a united Satavia had become increasingly popular, particularly as neighbouring Nuvania was granted home rule and dominion status that year.<ref name="Federation Journal"/> Nonetheless, there remained significant opposition to federation; notably, in the Western Colonies. The Asteriaaner colonies were fearful of dominance by the much larger Dolphin Bay Colony, a fear that was confirmed when it was decided in 1813 that Sandy Cove - the capital of the Dolphin Bay Colony, and largest city in Estmerish Satavia, would become the capital of the new unified colony.<ref name="Federation Journal"/><ref name="1816-2000 complete census data">{{cite web|url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Satavia#Demographics |date=21 August 2000|title=Complete Census Data & Records (1816-2000) |work=Government of Satavia |access-date= 11 July 2023}}</ref> Furthermore, there were Estmerish concerns that several different colonies threatened to deepen the ethnic divide between Asteriaaners and the Estmerish.<ref name="Federation Journal"/> In 1814, newly-formed Western Satavia withdrew from the Federation Talks.
[[File:Opening of the first parliament.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''The Grand Opening'' depicts the opening of the first [[Parliament of Satavia|Satavian Parliament]] in 1816]]
Tom walks home to a dingy apartment. He closes the door, and looks across at the bottle of vodka on the table. As he drinks it, we see his flashbacks. He crashes the car. He is in tears. As he stumbles out, he sees that he has hit another car. Although his vision is blurry, he can see that the occupants are dead. He flees the scene.
Satavia's first election, the [[1816 Satavian general election|1816 general election]] was held across the five colonies involved in Federation over the course of three weeks from 13 July to 2 August 1816.<ref name="Federation Journal"/> The voter role was not consistent across the colonies; in the Hope Province (with the most liberal voter restrictions) all men over the age of 25 under a {{wpl|property qualification}}, whereas the Orange Province (the most restrictive) had a male-only, whites-only, {{wpl|Calvanism|Kasperist}}, property-qualified and an age restriction of 27.<ref name="Satavian Voting Restrictions">{{cite web|url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Satavia#Demographics |date=25 June 2020|title=Voting Limitations & Restrictions in Satavia|work=Government of Satavia |access-date= 11 July 2023}}</ref> [[Richard Somerset]] would be elected the first Prime Minister of Satavia in the election. On 3 September, 1816, the [[Parliament of Estmere|Estermish Parlament]] passed the [[Satavia Act, 1816]] which lay out the provisions for Satavia to attain responsible government.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5"/><ref name="Federation Journal"/> Additionally, the colonial councils of the five colonies (which had attained representative government in 1800) passed their own versions of the act.<ref name="Federation Journal"/> On 1 October, 1816 the act entered effect, as did the [[Constitution of Satavia]]. Upon its passage, Satavia became a federation consisting of five provinces ([[Arundel]], [[Dolphin Bay Province|Dolphin Bay]], [[Pioneerstaat|Maria]], [[New Borland]] and the [[Orange Province]]) and one territory ([[Central and Western Territories]]).<ref name="Federation Journal"/> Western Satavia attained self-governance in 1819, but not dominion status. By 1833, the comparative economic prosperity of the Dominion of Satavia led to further calls to join the dominion.<ref name="West Satavia calls to join Dominion">{{cite news| last = Carter | first = Daniel | title = West Satavia Colony considers joining Dominion of Satavia; Hillingdon approves| pages = | newspaper = Economic Review | location = Morwall | date=28 August 1833 | url = https://www.economicreview.es/archive/news/leads/f98qhf2389fh894}}</ref> The Dominion government, lead by [[Patrick Conway]], was in favour of accepting Western Satavia into the federation, and drafted several proposals, all of which were rejected by the Western Satavian government.<ref name="Federation Journal"/><ref name="Western Freestate Fact File">{{cite web|url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Satavia#Administrative_Divisions |date=14 October 2013|title=Western Freestate: Fact File|work=Government of Satavia |access-date= 13 December 2022}}</ref> However, talks continued throughout the 1830s. In 1838, Satavia was effected by the [[Great Drought of 1837-38|Great Drought]], which impacted Western Satavia's agriculture-based economy significantly.<ref name="Drought Cripples Economy; money talks in Morwall">{{cite news| last = Beckham | first = David | title = Drought Cripples Economy; money talks in Morwall| pages = | newspaper = The West Satavian | location = Port Arthur | date=5 July 1838| url = https://www.thefreestate.co.sv/archive/news/12f98h9289f81_f1891}}</ref> The government of Western Satavia requested financial compensation from Estmere; however, as Estmerish government policy had remained a preference for the unification of the island of Satavia as part of their wider colonial consolidation efforts to improve governance, the government of [[List of prime ministers of Estmere|Lord Hillingdon]] instead proposed a modified version of Conway's sixth and final ascension proposal.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5"/><ref name="Federation Journal"/> Despite being fiercly debated within both Satavia and Western Satavia, it was ultimately accepted by both sides. Western Satavia, which would become the [[Western Freestate]], was given special status within Satavia and had vastly more control over its internal affairs then the other provinces.<ref name="Western Freestate Fact File"/> An updated passage of the Satavia Act promulgated in [[Satavia Act, 1838|1838]] and saw Western Satavia join the Dominion of Satavia. In [[1855 Satavian general election|1855]], [[Johan van Vallier]] became Prime Minister of Satavia; and the following few decades would become known as the [[Satavian Boom]] as huge immigration to Satavia from Estmere, other parts of the Estmerish colonial empire and Euclea (paticularly [[Caldia]] and [[Piraea]] brought massive economic growth.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5"/><ref name="Second Empire book"/><ref name="Satavian Boom">{{Cite book |last=Sexton |first=Jonathon |author1-link= |title=Business is Booming - Satavia examined|year=1986 |publisher= United Publication Corporation (UPC) |location=Port Hope |isbn= |url= }}</ref> However, this period of growth also coincided with the [[Great Shame]], during which the vast majority - an estimated 95% - of Satavia's indigenous population was systematically exterminated.<ref name="Native Danger"/><ref name="Satavian Boom"/><ref name="Genocide: A Complete History">{{Cite book |last=Dupuis |first=Ludovic |author1-link= |title=Genocide: A Complete History|year=2017 |publisher= Association École |location=Verlois |isbn= |url= }}</ref><ref name="The Great Shame">{{Cite book |last=O'Driscoll |first=Brian |author1-link= |title=The Great Shame examined|year=2005 |publisher= United Publication Corporation (UPC) |location=Port Hope |isbn= |url= }}</ref> Van Vallier, a member of the right-wing [[Dominion Party (Satavia)|Dominion Party]] also sought to increase Satavian autonomy whilst remaining within the Estmerish Empire, frequently coming into conflict with the Liberal government of the Satavian-born [[Richard Hope, Earl of Longwood]].<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5"/>
They attend another meeting. More talking between characters.
[[File:The Royal Navy during the Second World War A4606.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Royal Satavian Navy sailors aboard ''[[HMSS Satavia]]'' in the [[Arucian Sea]], 1933]]
Tom stops by a shop on his way back. He picks up a bottle of vodka and pays in coins. A prominent sign above the counter displays a message asking for identification for under 21s. A second sign says that the cashier will not sell alcohol to those suffering from mental illness. Tom looks at the sign and back at the cashier, who hands him the bottle of vodka. He walks home and drinks the whole thing. He sees the face of the dead occupants. He walks to the sight of the crash and sees it more, bottle in hand. He stumbles over to the bridge - obviously the Harbour Bridge - and stands at the edge, covered in darkness. He takes one last look up, and throws himself off.
*Nuvanian independence
Jannie walks into the meeting. They sit down. Tom’s chair is empty. The Therapist exchanges a glance with Jannie, whose eyes fall to the ground. Jannie talks more about is daughter and how much she means to him, although, he painfully concedes “of course… I barely know her now…”. Jannie goes home and is determined to find his daughter. He searches the internet to find his daughter but to no avail. He drinks a case of beer and watches television. He wakes up, puts the picture of his daughter under his hard hat and walks to work. Once there, he is met by the foreman who tells him he has been laid off, as the costs of the construction have spiralled and can no longer be afforded. He goes home, slumps on the sofa and takes out the picture of his daughter. Tears well in his eyes.
*Viceroyalty of Asterias
*Great War (big) - at home and abroad - contribution
*Nuvanian forces leave, Satavian forces re-occupy the country. a few skrimishes (Battle of Laingsdorp in c. 1934)
Following the conclusion of the Great War, the political atmosphere in Estmere remained volatile.<ref name="Estmere Aflame: The Impact of the Great War">{{Cite book |last=White |first=Callum |author1-link= |title=Estmere Aflame: The Impact of the Great War|year=2004 |publisher= Birdstone Press |location=Morwall |isbn= |url= }}</ref> The Estmerish government announced two referendums to be held in 1936; one on the status of [[Borland (Kylaris)|Borland]] but the other on the future of the Estmerish monarchy.<ref name="Estmere govt referendums">{{cite news| last = Ricciardo | first = Daniel | title = Estmerish Govt. announces referendums on fate of Borland, Monarchy | pages = | newspaper = The Hope Post | location = Port Hope | date=16 January 1936 | url= https://www.hopepost.co.sv/archive/18676779}}</ref> The abolition of the monarchy, which at that time seemed inevitable, would complicate the relationship between Satavia and Estmere, and consequently Limes - who was a passionate advocate of full independence from Estmere, even before the Great War - informed the Estmerish government sometime in March 1936 of Satavia's intention to achieve independence.<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5"/><ref name="Estmere Aflame: The Impact of the Great War"/> Negotiations began in April 1936 and an agreement was soon reached amicably in June. The Satavian government drafted the [[Satavia Act, 1936|Satavia Act 1936 (Dom.)]] which passed through both houses with relatively little opposition.<ref name="Satavia Act, 1936">{{cite web|url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Satavia#Politics |date= 12 January 2000 |title=Satavia Act, 1936 at legislation.gov.sv |work=Government of Satavia |access-date= 14 June 2021}}</ref> The Governor-General, Sydney Warwick, initially refused to grant royal assent, waiting instead for the Parliament of Estmere to pass an almost identical piece of legislation, the [[Satavia Act, 1936|Satavia Act 1936 (Kin.)]]. [[Wolfgar E.R. Godfredson]], in his capacity as [[President of Estmere|Chairman of the Transitional Authority]] provided assent on the
We skip forward to next meeting; Jannie walks in and tells how he’s been sacked. He said he’s been looking for a job but can’t find any. Unemployment is rife. He attends an interview, wearing an old scruffy suit. He’s told “we don’t need any more construction workers… and even if we did, we’d probably pick somebody slightly younger”. He goes home and looks at the case of beer. He ignores it and takes out his construction material. He calmly takes out a rope, ties it around the beam under his staircase. He stops, hesitates, as he looks at the picture of his daughter. He says - “I’m sorry, Louise” and places the noose over his head.
*Independence etc. monarchy existence - discussion with lil
Jack walks in. There are now two empty seats. He talks about his feelings, and leaving home. He goes home to his tent. He walks along the street and sees pictures of happy couples and happy people. He goes into his tent and looks down at the needle. He injects himself with a needle. The camera blurs as Jack relaxes. He lies as the music slows, a heartbeat is audible. His eyes are filled with tears. He injects himself again, and we see his last, relaxed breaths.
===National party dictatorship===
Leo, Charli and Carter are the only three remaining. They glance around at each other. Leo professes that he has lived a long life; although he laments that it was perhaps, not an entirely happy one. He talks of his dreams, his desires, his wishes. He talks, somewhat cryptically, about his love. Running from riot police as teenagers in the 1960s. He goes home and sits in an armchair in front of the fire. He glances at his sleeping pills. He takes a handful, places them in his mouth, drinks it with a cup of tea, closes his eyes, and goes to sleep.
{{main|National Party (Satavia)}}
===Return to democracy (1976-present)===
Charli brings up trying to talk to her husband, but finding herself unable to. She struggles with her self-worth. She laments how happy she had been, and how low she feels now. She goes home and tells her husband about the affair. He reacts angrily and complains of her constant nagging. A day passes and her husband actively flaunts the new girlfriend. She takes her husbands pistol and goes to the local golf club. She shoots the girlfriend, before turning the gun on her husband, and then on herself.
[[File:New Zealand soldier with an Australian M113 in South Vietnam during 1968.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Satavian soldier of the [[Satavian Army|2nd Battalion, Western Regiment]] at the confluence of the [[Satavia#Geography|Crocodile]] and [[Satavia#Geography|Hex]] rivers during the [[Satavian Crisis]] (1977)]] [[File:General Westmoreland visits 161st Field Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery at Nui Dat.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Rizealand|General McPherson]] ([[Rizealand]]) meeting with Satavian Army commanders in the Orange Mountains, 1977]]
==Geography==
Carter walks into the meeting. He looks at The Therapist who says “shall we sit down”. Carter talks mainly about his wife, his love for her and his daughters. He talks of how he struggles to deal with raising them, and what life without his mother is like. He cannot forgive the man who drunk drove and killed his wife. He struggles with alcohol abuse. He keeps repeating his love for his daughter.
===Biodiversity===
===Climate===
He goes home. It’s late at night and he drinks a bottle of red wine. And then a second, before downing a third. He goes into the draw, and takes out a knife. His hand trembles as he draws it to his body. He is stopped by his daughter walking in. “Daddy, what are you doing?”.
==Government and politics==
The film closes with The Therapist sitting on a chair, looking out across the empty room. He stands up, looks out, turns the lights off and walks off. A message informs viewers about the “silent epidemic” - it “lurks in the shadows… it truly is the silent epidemic. More Satavians will die this year from Suicide than HIV, malaria, breast cancer or homicide. Need help? Dial 000. You get one shot. Don’t waste it”.
| caption1 = [[Jago Elliot]],<br>[[President of Satavia]]
| image2 = John Key February 2015.jpg
| caption2 = [[Arthur Warwick]],<br>[[Prime Minister of Satavia]]
}}
Satavia is a federal parliamentary constitutional republic. Satavia's constitution, ratified in 1816, is one of the world's oldest.<ref name="Constitution of Satavia: A History">{{cite web|url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Satavia#Government_and_politics |date= 21 June 2016 |title=Constitution of Satavia: A History |work=Government of Satavia |access-date= 16 January 2023}}</ref> Additionally, Satavia is one of the world's oldest federations, in which power is separated between the federal government and the provincial or territorial governments.<ref name="Constitution of Satavia: A History"/> The Satavian system of government is heavily influenced by that of Estmere's, and follows the {{wpl|Westminster System|Northabbey system}} closely. Following federation in 1816, Satavia had a [[House of Representatives of Satavia|House of Representatives]] and a [[House of Peers of Satavia|House of Peers]], much like Estmere. The House of Peers was an unelected house, containing only appointed politicians that included a mixture of primarily-Estmerish peers and Satavian-born commoners.<ref name="Satavian Parliament">{{cite web|url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Satavia#Government_and_politics |date= 11 January 2007 |title=Inside the Parliament of Satavia |work=Government of Satavia |access-date= 16 June 2020}}</ref> The House of Peers was only replaced by the [[Senate of Satavia|Senate]] in 1939. Members in the House of Representatives, of which there are 152 avaliable seats, are elected through {{wpl|single-member constituencies}} using the {{wpl|first-past-the-post system}}.<ref name="Elections in Satavia">{{cite web|url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Satavia#Government_and_politics |date= 14 August 2005 |title=Elections in Satavia |work=Government of Satavia |access-date= 12 April 2013}}</ref> Meanwhile, in the Senate, citizens vote for a party. The total popular vote in a province or territory for each party is then allocated into seats using a modified version of the {{wpl|D'Hondt method}}.<ref name="Elections in Satavia"/> Each province and territory is allotted 12 senators, regardless of total population, for a total of 96 available Senate seats.<ref name="Elections in Satavia"/> Voting is mandatory on the federal level, and has been since 1976, with some exceptions. Mandatory voting on a provincial level is also now in place across the country; it was introduced first in the Hope Province in 1882, Western Freestate in 1896,{{Refn|group="N"|Whilst universal suffrage had been established by 1976, mandatory voting in the Western Freestate excluded ethnically Bahian people until 1983, ethnically Coian people until 1985 and indigenous people until 2007<ref name="Satavian Voting Restrictions"/>}} Maria (now the Pioneerstaat) and New Borland in 1918, whilst Arundel and the Orange Province introduced identical legislation in 1922 introducing compulsory voting.{{Refn|group="N"|Arundel and the Orange Province both placed limitations on female and indigenous mandatory voting; females were required to vote from 1982 and indigenous people from 2007<ref name="Satavian Voting Restrictions"/>}} Mandatory voting is enforced across all age limits, and exceptions are only granted to Satavians living overseas, who are still entitled to vote if they can provide their last known address.<ref name="Satavian Voting Restrictions"/> A [[Satavian guilder|G]]1,000 (aproximately {{wpl|Euro|€}}100) fine is levied for a first offence, increasing up to G2,500 (approximately €300) for a repeat offence. As a result, Satavian electoral turnout is amongst the highest in the world, usually resting at approximately 90%.<ref name="Elections in Satavia"/><ref name="Help! I didn't vote!">{{cite web|url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Satavia#Government_and_politics |date= 19 September 2022|title=Help! I didn't vote! |work=Government of Satavia |access-date= 20 September 2022}}</ref>
[[Elections in Satavia]] occur sporadically. On a federal level, four types of election exist as defined in the Satavian constitution.<ref name="Constitution of Satavia: A History"/> They all elect members to the House of Representatives and Senate, the terms of which for members are both four years; elections must be called at least three years, 364 days following a previous election. However, a procedure known as [[Electoral pushback]] exists in which, with the approval of the [[High Court of Satavia]], an election may be delayed by up to 270 days past the date it should have been held.<ref name="Electoral pushback">{{cite web|url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Satavia#Government_and_politics |date= 17 October 2020|title=How electoral pushback works|work=Government of Satavia |access-date= 27 June 2021}}</ref> This is most commonly used on a provincial level, where provincial elections may be "pushbacked" in order to sync with a national level, helping to reduce costs, improve voter turnout and increase efficiency.<ref name="Electoral pushback"/> Electoral pushback is a procedure unique to Satavia.<ref name="Electoral pushback"/> Federal elections occur when the Prime Minister asks the President to disolve both the House of Representatives and the Senate, meaning all seats in both houses are up for election..
==Cast==
{{div col}}
* [[Satavia|Ashton Lynes]] as Tom Shaw
** [[Satavia|Phoenix Turner]] as Young Tom Shaw
* [[Satavia|Pieter Dunbarr]] as Carter Arnold
** [[Satavia|Dane Coles]] as Young Carter Arnold
* [[Satavia|Molly Mitchell]] as Charli Whitford
** [[Satavia|Indiana Rhodes]] as Young Charli Whitford
* [[Satavia|Elijah Larkins]] as Jack Smuts
** [[Satavia|Jacob Radek]] as Young Jack Smuts
* [[Satavia|Anthony Dry]] as Leo Ronin
** [[Satavia|Hennie McMahon]] as Young Leo Ronin
* [[Satavia|Patrick Cosby]] as Jannie Murphy
** [[Satavia|Duke Gambon]] as Young Jannie Murphy
* [[Gaullica|Edouard Florence]] as The Therapist
{{div col end}}
The [[President of Satavia]] is the {{wpl|non-executive}} {{wpl|ceremonial}} {{wpl|head of state}} of Satavia.<ref name="President of Satavia">{{cite web|url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Satavia#Government_and_politics |date= 12 January 2017|title=About the President|work=Government of Satavia |access-date= 18 November 2019}}</ref> The position has existed since 1939, when [[Marinus de Klerk]] was selected as Satavia's first president. The longest-serving president is [[Apollonas Georgallis]], who served from 1961-1974, whilst the longest-serving elected president is [[Philip Fairfax]], who served from 2002-2013.
==Production==
Although traditionally regarded as Asteria Inferior's most economically and politically stable nation,<ref name="SATAVIA (History) 3/5"/><ref name="SATAVIA (History) 2/5"/><ref name="Elections in Satavia"/> Satavia experienced two coups d'état and one attempted coup d'état within a 38-year period (the first, the [[February Coup]] of 1939, the [[1976 Satavian coup d'état]] and an attempted coup d'état during the [[Admiral's Rebellion]] of 1946).<ref name="The art of the Coup d'état">{{cite book| last1 = Athanasiou | first1 = Jasper | title = The art of the coup d'état - how to launch a coup | location = Port Hope | publisher = United Publication Corporation (UPC)| date = 2009}}</ref> They remain the only coups d'état in Satavian history.
| misc='''Audio Sample''' <br> [[File:MediaPlayer.png|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHT3xNYZU8o]]<br> {{wpl|Song|''This Side of Paradise''}} by ''{{wpl|Coyote Theory}}''}}
|{{flagicon image|Flag of the National Capital District.png|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Port Hope|National Capital District]]'''|| NCD || SV-NCD || style="text-align:left" |[[Port Hope]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|2,421,671}}|| style="text-align:right" | 336
|7,207.35
|18
| style="text-align:left" |[[Craig Marshall]]
| style="background-color: #e29a1d" |
| style="text-align:left" |[[Martin Verschoor]]<br>([[Liberal Party (Satavia)|Liberal]])
|[[NCD Government]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagicon image|Flag of the Central Territory.png|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Central Territory]]'''|| CT || SV-CT || style="text-align:left" |[[Hondeburg]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|204,198}}|| style="text-align:right" | 186,620
|1.09
|1
| style="text-align:left" |[[James Pienaar]]
| style="background-color: #1f7ae0" |
| style="text-align:left" |[[Louis Plummer]]<br>([[Conservative & Country Party|C&C]])
The film was a production of the Satavian Broadcasting Corporation. It received funding from the SBC, National Lottery, as well as from various charities aimed at suicide prevention and intervention. The film was created to increase public awareness about Satavia's "silent epidemic", which has seen the suicide rate in Satavia rise to 20.1 (approximately double the global average), giving Satavia the highest suicide rate in the Asterias and the 13th highest in the world. In particular, Jaco stated the film was aimed at young men who are disproportionately affected by suicide. The film premiered at the Montecara Film Festival in October 2023 and was first aired on Satavian television on 3 November. Due to its themes and mature content , the film was awarded an age classification of 18 in Satavia and was consequently shown after watershed on SBC 1. Additionally, the SBC broadcast the film with an added disclaimer warning that it contained "extremely distressing and graphic scenes".
The film opens during a tropical storm; we see Tom Shaw (Ashton Lynes), a handsome, dishevelled, 20-year old, walking hurriedly. As he walks through the streets, people around him rush to escape the rain; prominently featured is an advertisement warning of bulimia in teenage girls, which then swaps to a Top Dog advert depicting a teenage girl eating a large combination meal. As he approaches a derelict warehouse, he stops and takes a breath before pushing the door open and entering. The room is poorly lit and laid out with plastic deck chairs. Tom exchanges glances with the others in the room, before The Therapist (Edouard Florence) asks everyone to be seated and beckons for Tom to introduce himself. As Tom speaks, we see his childhood memories; we see Young Tom Shaw (Phoenix Turner) at school where he is a member of the First XV rugby team and obviously popular, but struggles academically. As he returns home we see his father, who is under the influence of drugs, physically abusing his mother and then turning his anger on Young Tom Shaw. Tom Shaw remembers how he was set-up for a promising rugby career; he signs a professional contract on his 18th birthday and goes out to celebrate. Whilst drunk, he gets into a physical fight with his father, before stealing his father's car and crashes into another vehicle on a bridge. He remembers stumbling out of the car, and otherwise reveals nothing further.
The camera now pans to the man seated next to Tom Shaw; 39 year old, Carter Arnold (Pieter Dunbarr). Arnold talks and reminisces of his childhood; we see Young Carter Arnold (Dane Coles) excel at school work and grow up in a privileged and loving background, attending a private school. He marries his childhood sweetheart, and with her has two daughters. He rises through the ranks of the law firm he works at and is already a Senior Partner. We see Arnold, his wife and two children celebrating his daughter's eight birthday in a restaurant, before Arnold drives them home. They stop at a traffic light; as it turns green, Arnold leisurely accelerates away, only to be broadsided by another vehicle. Despite his blury vision and shock, Arnold turns around to check on his children, both of whom are unhurt; his wife, however, is slumped in the passenger seat, dead. He tells how the driver of the other vehicle was drunk, and that since his wife's death he has struggled with a drinking problem of his own, which combined with the challenges of raising two daughters has lead him to spiral into a state of depression.
Charli Whitford , a 45 year-old housewife, now tells her story. She talks about her husband - who is signifciantly older than her - and that she fell deeply in love with him twenty years prior. We see her as Young Charli Whitford (Indiana Rhodes) being she says that despite the fact he had four previous marriages, their marriage had always been loving and happy - and was his longest by far. However, two weeks ago she discovered that he was having an affair with a much younger woman, and was heartbroken. She says she has begun to struggle with her self-worth, and that she felt trapped in what had become a loveless marriage; she says she felt unsafe to tell him about her knowledge of his infidelity, because she was afraid of how he would respond.
[re-write of the following is pending, probably, although the plot remains the same]
Jack talks about his blissfully happy childhood on a rural farm; riding horses and looking after cattle. Attending a school in the village, he became best friends with another boy - unnamed. When he was 13, he began feeling - as he explains - that perhaps it was more than friendship. Aged 16, he begins a secret affair with the boy. However, a few months ago, his father caught him and said boy engaging in a sexual act. He is kicked out of his house and forced to wander. He faces ostracising from his community, and the other boy ignores him when he begs him to come with him. He wanders down the road, trying to hitch hike, through sun and wet weather. He arrives in the city, and begins abusing substances and self-harming in his tent under an underpass.
Leo is simply a lonely old man. He talks briefly of his life, much of it lead on his own. He briefly mentions a young love, but volunteers no further information. He is very quiet and shielded.
Jannie is an alcoholic construction worker. He talks about his drinking, and the desire and need to have alcohol. He talks passionately about his daughter; the only picture he has is of her as a child. He talks about her being taken away from him by child services when she was 9. She must be 20 now, he says. The child’s mother has never been in the picture.
Once everyone has stopped talking, the therapist thanks all for being there. He talks a little. He thanks everyone for coming.
Tom walks home to a dingy apartment. He closes the door, and looks across at the bottle of vodka on the table. As he drinks it, we see his flashbacks. He crashes the car. He is in tears. As he stumbles out, he sees that he has hit another car. Although his vision is blurry, he can see that the occupants are dead. He flees the scene.
They attend another meeting. More talking between characters.
Tom stops by a shop on his way back. He picks up a bottle of vodka and pays in coins. A prominent sign above the counter displays a message asking for identification for under 21s. A second sign says that the cashier will not sell alcohol to those suffering from mental illness. Tom looks at the sign and back at the cashier, who hands him the bottle of vodka. He walks home and drinks the whole thing. He sees the face of the dead occupants. He walks to the sight of the crash and sees it more, bottle in hand. He stumbles over to the bridge - obviously the Harbour Bridge - and stands at the edge, covered in darkness. He takes one last look up, and throws himself off.
Jannie walks into the meeting. They sit down. Tom’s chair is empty. The Therapist exchanges a glance with Jannie, whose eyes fall to the ground. Jannie talks more about is daughter and how much she means to him, although, he painfully concedes “of course… I barely know her now…”. Jannie goes home and is determined to find his daughter. He searches the internet to find his daughter but to no avail. He drinks a case of beer and watches television. He wakes up, puts the picture of his daughter under his hard hat and walks to work. Once there, he is met by the foreman who tells him he has been laid off, as the costs of the construction have spiralled and can no longer be afforded. He goes home, slumps on the sofa and takes out the picture of his daughter. Tears well in his eyes.
We skip forward to next meeting; Jannie walks in and tells how he’s been sacked. He said he’s been looking for a job but can’t find any. Unemployment is rife. He attends an interview, wearing an old scruffy suit. He’s told “we don’t need any more construction workers… and even if we did, we’d probably pick somebody slightly younger”. He goes home and looks at the case of beer. He ignores it and takes out his construction material. He calmly takes out a rope, ties it around the beam under his staircase. He stops, hesitates, as he looks at the picture of his daughter. He says - “I’m sorry, Louise” and places the noose over his head.
Jack walks in. There are now two empty seats. He talks about his feelings, and leaving home. He goes home to his tent. He walks along the street and sees pictures of happy couples and happy people. He goes into his tent and looks down at the needle. He injects himself with a needle. The camera blurs as Jack relaxes. He lies as the music slows, a heartbeat is audible. His eyes are filled with tears. He injects himself again, and we see his last, relaxed breaths.
Leo, Charli and Carter are the only three remaining. They glance around at each other. Leo professes that he has lived a long life; although he laments that it was perhaps, not an entirely happy one. He talks of his dreams, his desires, his wishes. He talks, somewhat cryptically, about his love. Running from riot police as teenagers in the 1960s. He goes home and sits in an armchair in front of the fire. He glances at his sleeping pills. He takes a handful, places them in his mouth, drinks it with a cup of tea, closes his eyes, and goes to sleep.
Charli brings up trying to talk to her husband, but finding herself unable to. She struggles with her self-worth. She laments how happy she had been, and how low she feels now. She goes home and tells her husband about the affair. He reacts angrily and complains of her constant nagging. A day passes and her husband actively flaunts the new girlfriend. She takes her husbands pistol and goes to the local golf club. She shoots the girlfriend, before turning the gun on her husband, and then on herself.
Carter walks into the meeting. He looks at The Therapist who says “shall we sit down”. Carter talks mainly about his wife, his love for her and his daughters. He talks of how he struggles to deal with raising them, and what life without his mother is like. He cannot forgive the man who drunk drove and killed his wife. He struggles with alcohol abuse. He keeps repeating his love for his daughter.
He goes home. It’s late at night and he drinks a bottle of red wine. And then a second, before downing a third. He goes into the draw, and takes out a knife. His hand trembles as he draws it to his body. He is stopped by his daughter walking in. “Daddy, what are you doing?”.
The film closes with The Therapist sitting on a chair, looking out across the empty room. He stands up, looks out, turns the lights off and walks off. A message informs viewers about the “silent epidemic” - it “lurks in the shadows… it truly is the silent epidemic. More Satavians will die this year from Suicide than HIV, malaria, breast cancer or homicide. Need help? Dial 000. You get one shot. Don’t waste it”.
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