Seven years after he opened our second film festival, LAFS are delighted to welcome Aussie acting legend David Wenham back to
London for a double bill screening, featuring one of his most hilarious and beloved characters, Johnny 'Spit' Spiteri.
If you've never seen Gettin' Square
(and had the Spit experience), hang on to your thongs, because you're in for a ride that will leave your sides aching from laughter. Wenham's supporting character turned into a true scene-stealer - from the jeans and flip-flop combo, to the legendary courtroom scene - so it's wonderful to see him make a welcome return, two decades later, in Spit.
On Saturday September 6, we'll be screening both films at the Finsbury Park Picturehouse, and we're delighted to be hosting David Wenham for a live Q&A as part of the UK premiere of Spit.
Gettin' Square
tickets are at a discounted rate.
Australian snacks & gifts will be on sale + a raffle with all sorts of Aussie goodies to be won.
Full details below:
GETTIN' SQUARE
Finsbury Park Picturehouse
5pm - Saturday 6 September
2003 / Comedy / 1h 40m / BBFC: 15
Cast:
David Wenham, Sam Worthington, Timothy Spall, Gary Sweet
In advance of the UK premiere of Spit, LAFS is proud to present a rare screening of cult Aussie heist comedy, Gettin' Square, starring Sam Worthington, Timothy Spall and David Wenham, in the role of junkie no-hoper, Johnny ‘Spit’ Spiteri.
Released on parole, small-time crook Barry (Worthington - Avatar) re-enters the world with good intentions, but finding a job is difficult with a prison record. Struggling to keep his kid brother or his friend (Wenham) out of crime, he takes a kitchen job with a notorious restaurateur Darren ‘Dabba’ Barrington (Spall - Mr Turner, Secrets & Lies), and quickly finds himself falling back into his old ways, and the classic trap of pulling ‘one last job’.
Amid this Guy-Ritchie-on-Gold-Coast heist comedy, it was Wenham’s scene-stealing performance - from the jeans and flip flops combo, to the film’s legendary courtroom scene - that would inspire a belated sequel, which we will screen at Finsbury Park Picturehouse straight afterwards, with an in-person Q&A with producer and star, David Wenham.
With thanks to Park Circus, Universal and Working Title.
REVIEWS
“Gettin’ Square marks a rare comedic turn from Wenham and a performance so good it generated a loyal band of appreciators…and highly quotable lines, several of which involve requests for bus fare money and use of the words “your honour”...an unmissable performance and thus an unmissable film.” Luke Buckmaster (The Guardian)
SPIT + Q&A
Finsbury Park Picturehouse
7:30pm - Saturday 6 September
2025 / Comedy / Unrated 15 / 1h 45m + live Q&A
Cast:
David Wenham, Arlo Green, Helen Thompson, Gary Sweet, David Field
LAFS is proud to present the UK Premiere of Spit, and an in-person Q&A with the film’s producer and star, David Wenham.
In this long-awaited sequel to cult favourite Gettin' Square, notorious no-hoper Johnny ‘Spit’ Spiteri heads home to Queensland after more than twenty years in exile, only to have his fake passport land him in an immigration detention centre.
Taking it upon himself to educate his fellow detainees about all things Australian, Spit soon attracts the attention of the authorities, all of whom have old scores to settle.
Wenham’s comic chops are on full display once again, with snappy direction, more great writing, and a fabulous supporting cast helping him to cement Spit as one of Australian cinema’s most enduring larrikins.
With thanks to David Wenham and Moviehouse Entertainment.
REVIEWS
“Wenham is clearly having a lot of fun and his performance as the new kinder, gentler Spit is often surprisingly warm and heartfelt.”
Anthony Morris (Screen Hub)
FINSBURY PARK PICTUREHOUSE
17 City North Place, Islington, London, N4 3FU
NEAREST TUBE: Finsbury Park BEST EXIT: City North Place
