Tagline: Love can turn you upside down.
Somersault movie storyline. Coming of age: Heidi, 15, runs away from home after her mom sees her kissing mom’s boyfriend. She goes to a Snowy River resort where a vague job offer doesn’t pan out. She manages to find a place to live and a job at a convenience store. She’s between childhood — nursery rimes and a scrapbook of glittery unicorns – and adulthood – working, sorting out emotions and sexuality, and dealing with social slights and false charges of bad behavior. She’s attractive and her loneliness makes her vulnerable. She sleeps with Joe, the son of local ranchers, and she awakens in him feelings he can’t express. Is there any way she can put off adulthood and be a kid awhile longer?
Somersault is a 2004 Australian independent film written and directed by Cate Shortland, featuring Abbie Cornish and Sam Worthington. Shot in the winter of 2003, the film was released in September 2004 and screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. It also swept the field at the 2004 Australian Film Institute Awards, winning every single feature film award in total).
Exploring the themes of human sexuality and emotion, Somersault is about a 16-year-old girl named Heidi (Cornish) who flees her Canberra home to the mountain town of Jindabyne in New South Wales. There she meets Joe (Worthington), the son of a local farmer, and gradually forms a relationship with him, despite his difficulty in expressing his feelings. He also seems to be unsure of his sexual orientation, despite having better than average luck meeting women.
The soundtrack is written and performed by Australian band Decoder Ring—their song “Somersault” plays during the end credits. Some scenes were shot at the Ryrie homestead at Michelago, New South Wales.
About the Story
Heidi (Cornish), a somewhat isolated, sexually promiscuous teenager living in the suburbs of Canberra, flees her home after her mother, Nicole, finds Heidi kissing Nicole’s boyfriend. Isolated and alone, she initially travels to Snowy River with the promise of a job offer, however after phoning the person who informed her of the job prospect, she is rebuffed as the person explains they do not remember her.
Heidi’s attractive appearance and vulnerability lead her into various situations and escapades in the small town. She meets a stranger at a bar and has sex with him. In the morning, he informs her of his plans to travel to Sydney and Heidi asks if she can accompany him. His friend informs her that he already has a girlfriend and the idea of Heidi travelling with him is dismissed as a result of this. She strikes up a friendship with Irene (Curran), an older woman who runs a motel in the town.
Irene, realising Heidi has very little life experience and no permanent roots in the town, offers her a flatrent at the back of the motel. In order to pay the rent, Heidi must find a job, and after an unsuccessful attempt to work at a ski hire shop, she is hired at a Petrol station. One of Heidi’s co-workers is Bianca (Andrew) and the two become friends after Bianca offers her a lift home one evening.
While in town, Heidi eventually meets Joe (Worthington), an equally confused young man who is having trouble with his sexuality. Joe is the son of a wealthy local farmer who finds comfort in her presence. However, Joe’s insecurities towardshis sexual orientation lead to a turbulent relationship between the two. Staying with Joe’s parents is Richard (Thomson), a gay man. Although the two share passion, Joe and Heidi’s dysfunctional personalities sometimes lead to a disconnect between one another. One night, Joe takes Heidi to a Chinese restaurant, and she asks Joe if he loves her. When he refuses to answer, she swallows a small bowl of chilli. He drags her to the bathroom to expel the chilli and takes her back to the motel.
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Somersault (2005)
Directed by: Cate Shortland
Starring: Abbie Cornish, Sam Worthington, Lynette Curran, Erik Thomson, Hollie Andrew, Leah Purcell, Olivia Pigeot, Blake Pittman, Anne-Louise Lambert, Joshua Phillips
Screenplay by: Cate Shortland
Production Design by: Melinda Doring
Cinematography by: Robert Humphreys
Film Editing by: Scott Gray
Costume Design by: Emily Seresin
Set Decoration by: Glen W. Johnson
Art Direction by: Janie Parker
Music by: Decoder Ring
Studio: Magnolia Pictures
Release Date: October 28, 2005
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