In He Died with a Felafel in his Hand, author John Birmingham draws on his colourful experiences as a share house tenant, having lived with over 80 different people across 13 Australian share houses. This independent autobiographical novel was adapted into a long-running stage play, as well as Richard Lowenstein’s 2001 tragicomedy. The film follows Danny (Noah Taylor), who moves from share house to share house and city to city, failing to escape the quicksand of problematic housemates, destructive behaviours and unsavoury conditions that typify share house life. Through its keen observation of drug use, sexuality and stark economic realities, He Died with a Felafel in his Hand embodies many of the characteristics of Australian grunge literature, its wry humour offering an almost satirical take on an otherwise deeply realist genre. ‘…a beer-splattered kaleidoscope of outrageous sharehouse situations…The exaggerated truth in the tales connected with readers living through it or remembering their experiences’ – The Guardian Presented in partnership with Canberra Writers Festival. A discounted triple film pass is available to see Richard Lowenstein’s He Died with a Felafel in his Hand (11 Aug), Ken Cameron's Monkey Grip (18 Aug) and Ana Kokkinos’ Head On (25 Aug). The 25 August event will be followed by a discussion of the films and Australian Grunge Lit.