This Australian “mockumentary” chronicles the travails of the warmhearted Kerrigan family, who face the loss of their beloved, ramshackle house when the airport they live beside decides to expand. They meet with initial legal defeat, but with the providential help of an experienced jurist they prevail in front of the High Court of Australia. Although it’s a comedy, a poignant message is delivered about the effect eminent domain laws (called “compulsory acquisition” in Australian law) have on the lives of regular people.

Scene: Patriarch Darryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton) first approaches the only lawyer the family knows, Dennis Denuto (Tiriel Mora), who represented the eldest Kerrigan boy in a criminal case. Denuto has no experience in this kind of law, and he is very reluctant to take the case but allows himself to be persuaded. What follows may be one of the most painfully awkward courtroom scenes put on film, where the woefully unprepared Denuto is asked by the judge to explain what section of the Australian constitution applies to his defense.

“There is no one section, it’s just the … vibe of the thing,” he replies. “Jesus, Darryl, I am sweating it here,” he mutters to his client. “You’re killing ‘em, Dennis!” enthuses Darryl. “I don’t even know Roman numerals!” Dennis laments.

Floundering deeper, he eventually approaches the bench and whispers to the judge: “Am I sort of in the ballpark?” When the judge demurs, he presses: “I understand, can you just give me an angle?”

The only person in the courtroom surprised by the adverse verdict is the client, Darryl Kerrigan.

Lesson for lawyers: There are times when lawyers can reach beyond their limited experience, rise to the occasion and snatch victory for the little guy. There are also times when you know yourself to be outmatched. Potential clients may have complete faith in you, but they probably do not understand the law and the challenges they may face. If you know that you cannot competently represent them, do not let them persuade you to take the case against your better judgment.

—Lee Rawles