Somersault (2004)
Medium level sex scenes, adult themes
Heidi (Abbie Cornish) is just 16, but her life isn't sweet - and she has been kissed. In fact, she's been doing the kissing, with her mum's (Olivia Pigeot) no-hoper boyfriend. The kiss becomes something of a kiss of death for the mother-daughter relationship right then, and Heidi runs away from their Canberra low-rent home, catching a bus to Jindabyne at the foot of the resort-driven mountains. She is befriended by the motel keeper (Lynette Curran) whose son's mini-flat is empty - while he's in jail. Desperate not to be alone, she uses her newfound, sexually awakened body to make contact with the world. Well, men...well, boys, actually. She takes a shine to one young man who's different, though, Joe (Sam Worthington), the son of a local farmer and a tad more worthwhile than the rest. They are tentatively drawn to each other in a complex journey that is filled with misunderstandings and painful realisations. But the process does help them understand the need for real emotional attachment.
| Status: | LongWait |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 106mins |
| Origin: | AUSTRALIA |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 |
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Member Reviews (88)
88 Member
Reviews
PeterJH
says
This is a gritty Australian story that (when made) had a cast of mostly unknown actors. Visually it has a dream quality to it but there are some nightmare-like scenes.
It takes everyday people and gives to them the a that no US maovie would ever allow. Clearly this makes people uncomfortable.
gerald
says
Unusual story, well shot and good acting.
Derek S
says
We lasted 10 mihutes with this movie.
beth
says
A strange movie too much swearing
Lisa
says
pretty boring
Lindsay
says
An interesting true to life Aussie movie
Lee
says
Didn't do anything for me. Slow and irritatingly Australian, showcasing us as a pack of dimwits with no morals or manners. Cinematography was good, but nothing about the movie was stand out otherwise.
jericho
says
I have seen better movies a wast of time
Mary
says
This could have been a good movie but it ended up just a nothing movie. No point to it really. I love Australian movies but this one I wouldn't recommend. Despite the acting which was quite good it seemed the only theme was the overdone sex scenes.
Janie K
says
Not terrible, but not great either. Abbie Cornish's acting and presence on the screen was excellent, but the storyline and slowness (yes, I get the whole thing about the characters touching things and feeling the texture of things - it was just done to death!) was grating after a while. Not one I would see again.
McLovin
says
Brilliant! Abbie Cornish is amazing, (she always is), but the story is also a great one. Very Australian with no mucking about, just an honest and down-to-earth story of a girl on the run and looking for help. It deserves every one of its AFI Awards.
Kendal F.
says
I have seen this twice and liked it both times. Quite a complex film with a few themes running through it. Great performance by Abbie Cornish
Melrose
says
Aussie movies usually get it so right or so wrong. Unfortunately this movie got it so wrong. Sam Worthington and Abbie Cornish's honest and raw portrayals of empty characters are lost in a poor plot and boring representation of Australia. It wasn't a raw gritty coming of age, it wasn't even bleak. Just BLAND!
yeo44
says
not to bad for an australian movie, the scenery was beautiful and actors portrayed the story well,
Kristen N.
says
i usually love 'slice of life' movies- but this one was slow moving with an average and predictable plot. Great cinematography though
Rachel L C
says
Absolutely fantastic movie. A subject that is quite sensitive has been done in such a beautiful manner and the acting is flawless. A film Australia should be proud of.
Sandra S.
says
I'm in too minds about this movie. Abbie Cornish was great but the storyline was too slow and a little confusing at times. Still a good Aussie movie.
Danuta
says
Loved the performance from Abbie Cornish, (a new Australian star is born!). She was mesmerising, the subtleties of her character were exquisitely captured on camera. I could really understand the dilemmas a young girl was going though whilst exploring her sexual awakening. A very graphic and credible film, beautifully shot in a beautiful part of Australia. Performances from all support cast were all very good. The only place the film fell down for me was in the editing process, where it lacked a more subtle pacing & style with some scenes, otherwise I would have rated it 4 stars!
Sue K.
says
A beautiful movie.Abbie Cornish is brilliant
story of how a young girl who knows nothing about love runs away to a small town.with haunting music and eye catching photography this has become one of my favourite movies
Kassandra Y.
says
We didnt even finish watching it!
Nigel W.
says
A beautifully atmospheric film about 'lost' youth which manages to avoid being too downbeat. Although the story offers nothing new, it's the hypnotic cinematography and performance of the lead that makes it worth seeing.
Heide E.
says
A thoughtful movie with plenty to say about the dangers of growing up. Very well acted Aussie movie which deserves to be recommended.
Norman G.
says
"What did he tell you? But l didn't do anything!" Yeah right Heidi! The new Nicole Kidman, Abbie Cornish is probably the best drama queen actor going around she really performs all her work so strongly full of emotion. lf you liked "Candy" you will fall in love with this performance. Extras include deleted scenes, a making of and a short film flower girl.
Brian M.
says
Abbie Cornish is amazing. A very fine character driven Aussie drama.
Belinda B.
says
Some very pretty cinematography but little else to offer.
Andrew L.
says
Touches on some adult issue, good watching
Christine L.
says
The movie was good to watch showed the raw side of life very good acting.
very realistic.watched it twice.
Jean B.
says
Outstanding. No wonder Abbie Cornish has been snapped up by Hollywood. Her performance is flawless. A great Aussie movie - such a rarity these days. Do yourself a favour and SEE IT!
Kim S.
says
Some will find this boring... I really enjoyed it though as the slow moving story was appropriate for storyline and avoided being too confrontational.
Philip S.
says
Sympathetic treatment of a teenage girl using her sexuality to combat lonliness and a disfunctional home. Telling performances by the two young stars against the unforgiving backdrop of winter in the Snowy Mountains
Kornelis V.
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Clive M.
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Lisa W.
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Jacqueline R.
says
It was good, but not as good as some of the Australian movies that came out at around the same time.
Amy W.
says
Fantastic movie!!!! Absolutely love Australian movies.
Lisa L.
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Helen J.
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Helen J.
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Maxwell B.
says
usual undercooked Australian fare grossly overpraised by critics
Fiona P.
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Judith P.
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Sue M.
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Emma J.
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Rina M.
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Nirvana M.
says
saw this at the cinema and thought it was really good. definitely worth watching, if you like emotional aussie drama with a strong dose of reality which makes you think.
mnic
says
Exquisite and beautifully filmed. Slightly strange and quirky but a lovely exploration of strange and strained relationships.
Dino M.
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Darrin S.
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Lorene J.
says
Slow hard going...
Penny N.
says
Debra D.
says
A beautifully filmed story with a great Australian cast!
Bernard C.
says
John A.
says
Weak storyline and acting
LJ
says
A bit moody for my mother in law, but I loved it. Generous and beautiful.
Trevor H.
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Marg O.
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Petama
says
The story was very boring and I kept watch to see if anything was going to happen and it didn't. A girl with questionable morals and sad existence.
Damien B.
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Catherine M.
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russell1981
says
Brilliant examination of a teenager?s plight, with special plaudits to both director Shortland and brave Abbie Cornish, for whom this was her first lead role, after bit-parts in films like "The Monkey?s Mask", "Horseplay" and "One Perfect Day". "Somersault" was the only Australian film of 2004 to be selected for Cannes, and it received rave reviews there. Winner of all 13 feature film awards at the 2004 AFI?s.
Helmut R.
says
filmasart
says
A film that moves the viewer poetically through adolescence sexual and social awakening. The strength of an individual often reflects the family circumstance around one. Moving in its portrayal of young people growing up.
C. L.
says
Dianne M.
says
Typical Australian film - interesting but a little slow. I thought there were too many complicated relationships for one movie.
gol
says
slow at first but excellent movie if you are an ' art house' movie buff strong acting, unusual but beautiful filming
Robert S.
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Ann W.
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Audrey C.
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Rebecca B.
says
Good little film that gives insight it some aspects of modern youth. Nicely shot + scenic.
morrissy
says
I found Somersault to be a vapid and uninteresting ?coming-of-age? tale burdened by indulgent and heavy-handed direction. While its makers may have been confident they created an ethereal art-house classic, I saw very little substance there. It seems 2004 was a very lean year for Australian film making if this movie was the darling of the AFIs.
David K.
says
Good Aussie movie.
Harry B.
says
Not a bad movie, taken out of every day live.
Nigel R.
says
Carrie S.
says
Slow going and heavy, but well acted.
Colin M.
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Heidi M.
says
Even though I found this movie a bit confusing at the start, I was soon drawn in by Abby Cornish's amazing perfomrance as 16 year old Heidi. I even found myself relating to some of her experiences. The movie had a good plot. Maybe the ending could have been a bit more dramatic. The scenery was lovely. I also enjoyed Sam Worthington and Erik Thompson's performances. A very thought-provoking, confronting, beautifully scripted and marvellously shot movie all round.
Audrey C.
says
Paul M.
says
A 9.8 flipout.
Dell W.
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Greg P.
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Cynthia Palmer
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Christine Champion
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Adrian Jansen
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Daisyfish
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Adrian Jansen
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Brian Graham
says
Did not appeal. The story was thin, and acting average, however the Australian settings were familiar
John C
says
Bloody amazing. If you don't like this movie you are insensitive.
Stefano Boscutti
says