Till Human Voices Wake Us (2002)

Director:

Michael Petroni

Writer:

Michael Petroni (writer)

Release Date:

12 September 2002 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

There will be time to wonder "do I dare"

Plot:

A man returns to Victoria, Australia, where he grew up, and encounters a mysterious woman who reminds him of someone he once knew.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Friend | Poetry | Guilt | Amnesia

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Guy Pearce	...	Dr. Sam Franks
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Ruby
Frank Gallacher	...	Maurie Lewis
Lindley Joyner	...	Young Sam Franks
Brooke Harmon	...	Silvy Lewis
Peter Curtin	...	Dr. David Franks
Margot Knight	...	Dorothy Lewis
Anthony Martin	...	Russ
Dawn Klingberg	...	Mrs. Sarks
David Ravenswood	...	Lawyer
Stewart Faichney	...	Reverend Mortenbury
Diana Greentree	...	Mrs. Pickford
Ian Swan	...	Police Sergeant
Mark Perren Jones	...	Police Constable
Sally Plant	...	Student #1

MPAA:

Rated R for a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Cinevex)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Netherlands:MG6 | UK:12 | USA:R | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

Instinct Entertainment

Trivia:

The title is taken from the last line of 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' by T.S. Eliot: "Till human voices wake us and we drown".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sam and Ruby look at their reflections in the big window, Sam's face is partly shadowed in the reflection but when the shot is on him his face is fully lit with no shadows.

Quotes:

Maurie Lewis: Most people like to hide from things. That retards the growth of the spirit, and pretty soon their mortal ears can't hear the soul flapping its wings, wanting to fly in the face of life. To dare! You understand? Well, you'll never be quite alive until you do.

Amazing cinematography and lighting

As one who would like to make films some day, this film blew my mind as an example of superb cinematography and lighting, as well as balanced and subtle acting. Guy Pearce was a little rigid, but i haven't seen him in anything else, so that may have been an affectation of the morose and sombre character he was playing. Bonham Carter would be a dream to work with. She's a master of the art and has a sly dark, sexuality that i can't resist. I haven't yet, but i'll be searching out the cinematography and lighting credits and looking for more of the work of those fine technicians. Good work on a difficult and slow paced psychological drama.