Amy (1997/II)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Nadia Tass

Writer:

David Parker (writer)

Release Date:

27 August 1998 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

You've heard nothing until you hear her song.

Plot:

Amy is a story of a young girl who witnesses her dad's death on stage at a rock concert. She becomes mentally mute/deaf after this...

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Compassion | Death Of Husband | Australia | Welfare

Awards:

10 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Alana De Roma	...	Amy Enker
Rachel Griffiths	...	Tanya Rammus
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Robert Buchanan
Nick Barker	...	Will Enker
Kerry Armstrong	...	Sarah Trendle
Jeremy Trigatti	...	Zac Trendle
William Zappa	...	Bill Trendle
Torquil Neilson	...	Luke Lassiter
Sullivan Stapleton	...	Wayne Lassiter
Mary Ward	...	Mrs. Mullins
Susie Porter	...	Anny Buchanan
Frank Gallacher	...	Dr Urquhart
Malcolm Kennard	...	Brian Cosgrove
Jan Friedl	...	Susan Hammett
Jeremy Kewley	...	Maurice Reitman

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some domestic violence, disturbing images and brief language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Iceland:L (original rating) | Italy:T | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Cascade Films

Trivia:

The venue for the concert towards the end of the film where Amy is found is the Sydney Myer Music Bowl. It is located in gardens near the centre of Melbourne and is used for a wide range of functions, including concerts and Carols by Candlelight.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Amy's travels, when she is lost, take her through a wide range of Melbourne locations, and represent a long convoluted trip, which would most likely beyond the average 8-year-old child, requiring much walking and considerable use of public transport.

Quotes:

Tanya Rammus: Do you think that someone who can't speak, could sing?
Dr. Urquhart: I once saw a woman who couldn't walk, but she could dance.

Amazing cinema

This mixture of warm comedy (the singing policemen!) and deep, insightful drama (the domestic violence) is a must-see for anyone even remotely interested in life. Alana De Roma is absolutely brilliant as a young child who can't hear or talk, and Rachel Griffiths offers great support, as does the remainder of the all-star cast, which includes Ben Mendelsohn, Kym Gyngell, Susie Porter and Frank Gallacher, just to name a few. Though rated M, it's worth noting that it stays away from the Hollywood gore and profanity - while it's probably right that kids shouldn't see it, it retains a warmth and compassion rarely seen in film today, particularly those from across the Pacific. The humour is well-placed and genuinely funny, and does not detract at all from the story that's being told. How this one didn't win an AFI award for Best Film (it wasn't even nominated - but then neither was THE CASTLE - although THE INTERVIEW, THE BOYS, HEAD ON and RADIANCE were all very good) is beyond me. It was nominated for BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY, with an almost play-like atmosphere, written with colourful support characters which is rightly a favourite among Australian audiences. 92/100