I agree Rowena - I have to admit to jumping and squirming a lot while watching the tenser bits myself
superb tension sustained
i just read today it was only shot using high definition video!!!?? - a true shoestring masterpiece!
on aussie budget movies in the vein of 'the dish' and 'the castle' of which i also loved - some other recent years shoestring aussie movies 'the Honourable Wally Norman' shot in adelaide hills around Nairne (whose town story loosely mirrored the theme strangely enough!??)
and "the Nugget" with eric bana wasnt too bad, love the Victorian goldfields used in movie - beautiful looking place
and i did like 'Chopper' too at the time