The Nostradamus Kid (1993)

Director:

Bob Ellis

Writer:

Bob Ellis (written by)

Release Date:

14 October 1993 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Noah Taylor	...	Ken Elkin
Miranda Otto	...	Jennie O'Brien
Arthur Dignam	...	Pastor Anderson
Peter Gwynne	...	The Shepherd's Rod
Jack Campbell	...	McAlister
Erick Mitsak	...	Wayland
Loene Carmen	...	Meryl
Alice Garner	...	Esther Anderson
Lucy Bell	...	Sarai Anderson
Jeanette Cronin	...	Christy
Colin Friels	...	American Preacher
Bob Maza	...	Black Man
Bartholomew Rose	...	Kavanagh
Robyn Gurney	...	Mrs. Elkin
Marie Lloyd	...	Mrs. Rod

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuailty and language.

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Simpson Le Mesurier Films

Movie Connections:

References Jules et Jim (1962)

Australian Youth During The Cuban Missile Crisis

This is an intriguing effort from 1992. How many movies have you seen in which a character goes into an imitation of Olivier as Richard the Third and then a recording of John Kennedy comes on and you realize that JFK actually sounded like Oliver's Richard? Not many! THE NOSTRADAMUS KID stars Noah Taylor, who you'll recognize from a few things (ALMOST FAMOUS, for example) as an Australian teen raised as a Seventh Day Adventist. The year is 1962 and, indeed, with the Cuban Missile Crisis raging, the main character thinks the world is about to end. Given that the director, Bob Ellis, wrote and sang at least one song we hear in the background, I think it's an autobiographical account. It's a bit like SUMMER OF '42. While the religious upbringing the boy faces is treated with a lot of irony, THE NOSTRADAMUS KID is, ultimately, an understanding account. Given that the lead character has, on one side, a strong desire to connect with the Presbyterians who scorn him, the atheist who ridicules him and the biblical literalist who despises him for being a Seventh Day Adventist, this is not merely a story of someone who grows out of his religion. The wider theme of THE NOSTRADAMUS KID is the building of walls between people. It is not an attack on religion. In fact, it is a very honest portrayal of someone tormented with doubt. A NUN'S STORY may be a more devastating indictment of religious hypocrisy than this, but the point of THE NOSTRADAMUS KID is a little different. This will give you good insight into the mindset of the Baby Boomer generation. The acting is universally good, the photography is attractive and, if the movie seems a bit forboding, it is not cynical. Good luck finding it in the video shop. I found it in my local video shop, but I'd never heard of it before. I don't think there are any other reviews in this space. There's not even a professional critic's description. I find that surprising.