Flirting (1991)

Danny has been sent to boarding school, in this sequel to The Year My Voice Broke. Against a backdrop of bullying and sadistic teachers Danny strikes up an affair with an African girl, ... See full summary »

Director:

John Duigan

Writer:

John Duigan

Stars:

Noah Taylor, Thandie Newton, Nicole Kidman

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Noah Taylor	...	Danny Embling
Thandie Newton	...	Thandiwe Adjewa
Nicole Kidman	...	Nicola
Bartholomew Rose	...	'Gilby' Fryer
Felix Nobis	...	Jock Blair
Josh Picker	...	'Backa' Bourke
Kiri Paramore	...	'Slag' Green
Marc Aden Gray	...	Christopher Laidlaw (as Marc Gray)
Gregg Palmer	...	Colin Proudfoot
Joshua Marshall	...	'Cheddar' Fedderson
David Wieland	...	'Possum' Piper
Craig Black	...	'Pup' Pierdon
Les Hill	...	Greg Gilmore (as Leslie Hill)
Jeff Truman	...	Mr. Morris Cutts
Marshall Napier	...	Mr. Rupert Elloitt

Storyline

Danny has been sent to boarding school, in this sequel to The Year My Voice Broke. Against a backdrop of bullying and sadistic teachers Danny strikes up an affair with an African girl, Thandiwe, studying at a nearby girl's school. Their affair blossoms while everyone tries to stop it. Nicole Kidman also appears as a sexually repressed senior at Thandiwe's school.

---

Plot Keywords:

school | sequel | bullying | african | boarding school | 

---

Taglines:

Here's to risks

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for scenes of teen sexuality

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Idade das Emoções

Filming Locations:

Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Gross:

$2,415,396 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kennedy Miller Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Thandie Newton's first film role, co-starring here with Nicole Kidman; she later co-starred with Kidman's ex, Tom Cruise, in Mission: Impossible II.

---

Goofs

The film is set in 1965 and refers to Idi Amin's seizure of power in Uganda, however in reality this did not take place until 1971.

---

Quotes

Danny Embling: I don't think fate is a creature or a lady... like some people say. It's a tide of events sweeping us along. But I'm not a fatalist, because I believe you can swim against it... and sometimes grasp the hands of the clock face... and steal a few precious minutes. If you don't... you're just cartwheeled along. Before you know it, the magic opportunities lost. And for the rest of your life... it lingers on in that part of your mind... which dreams the very best dreams... taunting and tantalizing ...

---

Connections

References Dr. No (1962)

---

Soundtracks

"Tutti Frutti"
Written by Little Richard (as Penniman) / Dorothy La Bostrie (as La Bostrie) / Joe Lubin (as Lubin)
(ATV Music/EMI Music Publishing)

User Reviews

Coming of Age Film - one of best ever made

Intelligently written piece that combines sub-genres of Coming of Age and inter-racial films.

The plot is fairly straightforward and the message of the film is not deep. Nevertheless, it is an original film which is simply and cheaply made.

The first strength of the film lies in the exquisite performances from great cast of the then unknown actors, 3 of whom have gone on to great performances in many other films (Taylor, Newton and Kidman).

Secondly (assuming you are over 14 years old), the audience will have a strong feeling of resonation with the subject matter (growing up, alienation the school "norm", being allowed to behave differently etc). The fact that the film is by a British director about an Australian boarding school probably means that the film has a wider appeal to all anglo-saxon nations.

Finally, the humour is understated but engaging.

I loved this film on release. It has not lost any of its charm since, though you are slightly distracted by seeing well-known actors in their youth.