Directed and written by Jarratt, the film tells the poignant story of Sal, a man in his 30s with Down Syndrome.
The young man sets out on a quest to find his father, a rock band singer with whom his mother had a one-night stand 30 years ago, as she battles lung cancer.
Starring Gerard O'Dwyer, John Jarratt, and Kaarin Fairfax, the film has garnered significant attention for its compelling narrative and standout performances.
Jarratt's promotional tour has seen him travel to 18 different cinemas in 18 days, starting out from the south of Sydney at Huskisson, down the coast across Victoria, then back inland through Wagga, and now over to Corowa.
Corowa locals were treated to an exclusive screening of the film followed by an entertaining Q&A with the formidable actor.
Speaking about the film's success, Jarratt attributed much of it to Gerard O'Dwyer, the actor with Down Syndrome, describing him as someone who "can act his ass off".
During the event, Jarratt revealed that several of his family members contributed to the film.
"My brother Baz sang about four songs, and my son William sang the song where Gerard is sitting cross-legged watching the sunrise come up. My daughter is also one of the producers of the film and was involved in the music as well. And my daughter Ebony featured in the AA meeting scene as well," Jarrett said.
When asked about the inspiration behind "What About Sal?", Jarratt recounted a heartwarming encounter at a South Sydney versus Manly football match, where he observed a person with Down Syndrome celebrating with unbridled joy with his elderly mother.
This encounter sparked the idea for the film, in which Jarratt stumbled upon accidentally.
Jarratt's dedication to bringing meaningful stories to the screen and his commitment to promoting Australian cinema make "What About Sal?" a film to watch out for in the global film arena.
