Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Sindre Kaspersen Australian screenwriter and director Cate Shortland's feature film debut which she wrote, premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 57th Cannes International Film Festival in 2004, was shot on various locations in Australia and is an Australian production which was produced by producer Anthony Anderson and executive produced by Australian producer Jan Chapman. It tells the story about a 16-year-old girl named Heidi who lives in an apartment with her mother and her mother's boyfriend in Canberra, Australia. One morning after her mother discovers her boyfriend and Heidi kissing, an emotional confrontation occurs and winds up with Heidi running to the closest bus-station and taking the first available bus to Jindabyne where she tries to locate a friend. Heidi finds no traces of her friend and with no place to stay and only a small amount of money at her disposal she has to find a job and a place to live. By coincident she meets a local boy named Joe who is charmed by her and who takes her to a motel where they spend the night. The following day Heidi meets a woman named Irene who manages the motel and who after being told a lie by Heidi about her mother, lets her stay there until she finds herself a job. Heidi is getting settled in Jindabyne and her strong feelings for Joe are emerging, but her lies are catching up with her. Distinctly and acutely directed by Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland, this rhythmic fictional tale which is narrated from multiple viewpoints though mostly from the main character's point of view, draws an intimate and incisive portrayal of a vulnerable and love-seeking sixteen-year-old who goes on a risky guilt-trip far from home and her relationship with a young man. While notable for it's naturalistic milieu depictions, fine cinematography by cinematographer Robert Humphreys, editing by film editor Scott Gray and the brilliant use of sound, character-driven and profound independent film which examines themes like independence, self-discovery, family relations, interpersonal relations, love and alienation, contains a great score by Decoder Ring that emphasizes the protagonist's inner states and the poignant atmosphere.This somewhat enigmatic, romantic and consistently engaging drama which is like a poetic poem that reflects over the search for identity with subtle perspectives, is impelled and reinforced by it's cogent narrative structure, substantial character development, the versatile and emotionally intricate acting performance by Australian actress Abbie Cornish and the substantial acting performance by Australian actor Sam Worthington. A memorable and tender study of character which gained, among numerous other awards, five FCCA Awards at the 14th Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards in 2004 and thirteen AFI Awards at the 44th Australian Film Institute Awards in 2004.

Geordie Anderson Long, pointless, pretty shots of cows and clothes pegs fail to compensate for the lack of thematic vision that this film betrays. Abbie Cornish's performance, whether due to poor direction or lack of skill, is truly awful. On the other hand, Sam Worthington shines on screen and does the best he can with an insufficiently developed character.I was looking forward to seeing this film because I'd heard good things about it. It won multiple awards and I'd heard snippets of the lovely Decoder Ring soundtrack over the radio.Somersault is symptomatic of an Australian film industry that's lost its balls. None of the discipline it takes to put together a good screenplay and execute an interesting film can be found here. What a disappointment.

alexcs-1 I must confess some bias, being a massive fan of the Snowy area :) This film I can see not appealing to those who have never been to the Cooma/Jindabyne area of NSW. They will have no point of reference. For those who have however, this film is simply brilliant. I have stayed at the motel Heidi stayed at. I have visited friends with houses like Joes. The mood/feeling of Heidi around the edges of Lake Jindabyne are uncanny. There is a feeling down there I have not had anywhere else in Australia. A barren, cold feeling that is at once breathtaking and heartbreaking.Objectively, one could indeed see this movie being light on concerning the plot. In my mind and experiences though, I have never been so engrossed. Heidi and Joes relationship is so tantalising. So possible. It might seem to some as not realistic, but it really is. This is how many, many Australians express themselves ( on a good day! ) It is pure, and wonderful, and simply amazing and I don't care that this may have been the only film close to warranting attention in 2004. It is regardless completely brilliant, and I for one will be holding it close to my heart for a long long time to come.Australian cinema very rarely gets this close to actual emotion, and this film hits it again and again. Some of it may be contrived or stereotypical, but overall it really is a gem hidden amongst 21st century Australian cinema pap. Enjoy it please :)

tlgreen25 Beyond the aesthetically beautiful nature of this movie lies a story that is compelling in its realistic portrayal of young love and loneliness. The story moves along slowly, but I felt that this only added to the credibility of the plot, as most life situations aren't jam-packed with intense drama. The characters are flawed and complex - the main character Heidi is at once naive and youthful, and grown-up and savvy. The story details are slowly inserted, sometimes just through imagery - leaving the viewer to assume much of the back story - the movie does not feel contrived because you aren't being told every small detail and how the director wants you to judge each character. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone that enjoys artistic camera angles, realistic characters and situations, and doesn't mind slowing down to enjoy a good story.