There's a moment in the trailer for The Travellers where Luke Bracey's Stephen Seary says, “I'm not looking forward to old age.” Bryan Brown—playing his father Fred—fires back without missing a beat: “Then don't look forward.”
It's one of those throwaway lines that lands like a gut punch. Or maybe a warm hug. That's the tightrope The Travellers seems to be walking. Life isn't tidy. Neither are goodbyes. Especially when you're coming home to bury your mother, only to find yourself tangled up in family drama, ex-lovers, and the ghost of your teenage self still haunting the local pub.
This is Bruce Beresford's world now. And he's dragging us through the mess with him.
Beresford, 84, has been telling Australian stories since before most of us knew what an Aussie accent even sounded like onscreen. He gave us Driving Miss Daisy , sure—but also Breaker Morant , Puberty Blues , Tender Mercies , Mao's Last Dancer . His filmography reads like a masterclass in tone. Which makes The Travellers feel less like a late-career lull and more like a deeply personal reckoning.
Stephen Seary isn't just some fictional character. He's the kind of guy Beresford might've known—or perhaps once was. A stage designer jetting between Europe and Australia, chasing contracts while dodging obligations. Then BAM—death calls. Not metaphorically. Literally. His mother's dying. And suddenly, all the things he thought he'd left behind come barreling toward him like a drunk kangaroo at dusk.
The trailer teases chaos. Family tension. Flashbacks. A complicated dad. An awkward kiss. Some very bad driving. And Bryan Brown—oh Bryan Brown—delivering every line like he's been waiting decades to play this role. There's a twinkle in his eye, a creak in his voice, and a lifetime of regret simmering just under the surface. He doesn't just chew the scenery—he marinates in it.
Luke Bracey, best known for action-heavy roles (Holidate , Point Break ), looks like he's leaning into something subtler here. Less jawline, more heartbreak. He's got charm, yes, but also that frayed edge of someone who thinks running away is the same as moving forward.
And then there's the setting. Small-town Australia. Dusty roads. Overgrown gardens. A house that smells like mothballs and memory. It's the kind of place where everyone knows your name—and your business. And it's the perfect backdrop for a story about returning, reluctantly, to your roots.
Sony Pictures Australia will release The Travellers in cinemas Down Under on October 9th, 2025 . No U.S. date yet. But if the trailer is any indication, American audiences might want to keep an eye out. This isn't your typical indie darling. It's something older. Wiser. Slightly crankier. And probably exactly what we need right now.
Because let's face it—we're all Stephen Seary sometimes. Trying to balance ambition with obligation. Running from ghosts until we realize they were guiding us all along.
So go ahead. Don't look forward. Just look around.
You might just find a story worth watching.
