Caterpillar Wish

I am and always have been a huge fan of our films and this South Australian production that my wife and I just watched in Fremantle added another superb example to this wonderful collection. Without stretching the metaphor too tightly, I would compare our films like Oyster Farmer, Danny Deckchair, Peaches and others to name only a few, to the difference between a French wine to an Argentine wine or any wine from another country. They are all different but to judge one superior to another is a fool's game. The Caterpillar Wish was as superb an Australian film as I have seen: the acting by all the principals was perfect; the direction by Sciberras was masterful and the cinematography by Fraser completed the beauty of the film.

As I have commented in the past, I am particularly moved by the images of a film; I am particularly sensitive to the visuals on the screen and in that sense, a director's shot selection and the cinematography for those shots constitute another major acting role in a film. Diane and I were impressed with the remarkable visuals in Caterpillar Wish because Sciberras used big closeups throughout the film and that shot technique matched well the drama of the script as well as the seaside location of much of the film.

If you think that Diane and I loved this film, you would be right. The visuals of the location, the casting of the characters, their acting, the direction and the cinematography all contributed to an unforgettable film. If you like our film genre then you owe it to yourself to see this excellent film.

I'm over in Sydney on business and I popped in to see what was on in the local cinema. All the films that were on i'd seen, and the only thing I hadn't was Caterpillar Wish. I kinda groaned a little when I realised it was an Oz picture, I went in almost expecting a not great film. A "We have to show something home grown because the government says so" type film. BUT I was amazingly surprised! It was so much better than I expected. Oz really does have talent! The actors were pretty good, the only thing I felt that let it down a little was the cinematography. Things could have been a little tighter, I think the crash sequence (without giving anything away) could have been done more effectively, in my eyes it just didn't work.

Good fun! go see! :)

Despite the clichéd, somewhat melodramatic plotting, the characterisation, performances, photography and sets of Caterpillar Wish make this an absorbing and entertaining film about the complexities of life and relationships in a small coastal town. The characters are inflicted with some degree of inarticulateness about their feelings and an inability to acknowledge the big issues in their lives and, although this device can be a bit obvious, the film skillfully builds its dramatic tension from this base. Victoria Thaine is wonderful as Emily, the only person willing to seek a solution to her emotional dilemmas, whatever the cost, and Susie Porter turns in another great performance as her mum, scarred by her past. The photography is beautiful, making the most of the rugged coastal setting and successfully captures the ambiance of small town Australia. I guess this film just struck an emotional chord with me when it could have easily slid into overthetop melodrama or saccharine pap. You could argue that the ending is a bit neat and cheerful, but I'm not adverse to a happy ending from time to time.

This is one of the best movies I have seen all year. I loved the raw and un-contrived characters seeking to resolve (consciously or unconsciously) issues of 'identity'. The actors played their parts to perfection with that winning blend of introspection and underplay. The location of Robe in South Australia was a good choice visually and provided variety in weather conditions which added to the film's mysterious quality. There is a certain feeling of mystery to the film, helped not least by the soulful soundtrack and location, but also by the expert use of pause during the film. This film is another example of the talent Australia can boast for film-makers and actors alike.

Thoughtful cinematography, potent acting and a wintry, rugged location are not enough to push The Caterpillar Wish forward from the ranks of the trans-Tasman "teen girl's search for identity" films (Somersault, Peaches, In My Father's Den). Starring the talented Victoria Thaine as Emily, a 17 year old who longs for a father, The Caterpillar Wish is woven around an ensemble of characters harbouring secrets in the South Australian coastal town of Robe. Adultery, suicide, family estrangement, teen pregnancy; each character inches forward while struggling against the past.

Written and directed by first-timer Sandra Sciberras, the film demonstrates her skill at extracting powerful performances and offers promise of future success. Unfortunately, it fails to add anything fresh to the genre. Notable were Susie Porter, Emily's mother Susan, a topless barmaid who casually bares her body but exposes her soul to no one; Robert Mammone as Stephen a damaged fisherman; and Wendy Hughes playing Elizabeth, Stephen's frozen sister whose crumpled face reflects her internal anguish. All the characters undergo metamorphosis and, in a closing montage, each emerges to stretch their new and fragile wings in the summer sun.

I left the cinema pondering the film's tag-line, "This winter, one wish will change everything". Sadly, I think the only thing that viewers will wish is that the story had sufficient substance to stay with them longer than the drive home.