Lilian's Story (1996)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Jerzy Domaradzki

Writers:

Kate Grenville (novel)
Steve Wright (writer)

Release Date:

25 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Everything matters

Plot:

For forty years Lilian Singer has been locked up in a 'loony bin' by her father. Her release is eventually...

Plot Keywords:

Mental Illness | Independent Film | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Ruth Cracknell	...	Lilian Singer
Barry Otto	...	John Singer
Toni Collette	...	Young Lilian Singer
John Flaus	...	Frank
Jeff Truman	...	Head Orderly
Lyle O'Hara	...	Esther
Kate Agnew	...	May
Fiona Press	...	Ruby
Pat Hutchinson	...	Babs
Rachel Szalay	...	Inmate One
Kris Bidenko	...	Inmate Two
Janet Foye	...	Inmate Three
Deborah Foster	...	Inmate Four
Iris Shand	...	Aunt Kitty
Michael Greir	...	Driver of Kitty's Cab
Susie Lindeman	...	Jewel
Anne-Louise Lambert	...	Mother
Fiona Mahl	...	Alma
Essie Davis	...	Zara
Marian Dworakowski	...	Zara's Pimp
Matt Doran	...	Johnny
David Argue	...	Spruiker
Anthony Wong	...	Transvestite on Bus
Tim McGarry	...	First Bus Driver
Libby Arnall	...	Female Bus Passenger
Bogdan Koca	...	Slav Taxi Passenger
Jens Dowling	...	Male Taxi Passenger
Kate Dowling	...	Female Taxi Passenger
Kenny Graham	...	Cab Driver
Patrick Dickson	...	Bank Manager
Paul Muirhead	...	Bank Teller
Silvio Ofria	...	Fish Shop Assistant
Mary Regan	...	Angelique
Nibbs Davis	...	Bank Customer
Jason Marty	...	Man Questioned For Love
Rachel Maza	...	Shade
Inga Romantsova	...	Marge
Scott Bowie	...	Young Policeman
Morgan Smallbone	...	F.J. Stroud
Harry Pavlidis	...	Constable Sparkman
Brian M. Logan	...	Constable Lush
Peter McAllum	...	Police Prosecutor
Brian Harrison	...	Magistrate
Jessie Bullions	...	Child Lilian
Katie Coogan	...	Teen Lilian
Monique Spanbrook	...	Policewoman
Tim Page	...	Businessman
Jacqueline Kott	...	Shop Owner
Bob Maza	...	Last Taxi Driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maggie Kirkpatrick

Directed by
Jerzy Domaradzki

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Kate Grenville		novel
Steve Wright		writer

Produced by
Jeremy Bean	....	executive producer
David Court	....	executive producer
Marian Macgowan	....	producer
Mike Wilcox	....	co-producer (as Mike Wilcox)

Original Music by
Cezary Skubiszewski

Cinematography by
Slawomir Idziak

Film Editing by
Lee Smith

Casting by
Christine King

Production Design by
Roger Ford

Art Direction by
Diann Wajon

Costume Design by
Edie Kurzer

Makeup Department
Peggy Carter	....	makeup artist
Jan Zeigenbein	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Rosemary Dority	....	post-production supervisor
Fiona King	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Topher Dow	....	second assistant director
Noni Roy	....	third assistant director
Mark Turnbull	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Julie Pearce	....	assistant sound effects editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Sally Eccleston	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Philip Le Masurier	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Gabrielle Healy	....	extras casting

Editorial Department
Bin Li	....	first assistant editor
Claudio Sepulveda	....	colorist: Video 8 Broadcast

Music Department
Robin Gray	....	music scoring engineer
Daryl McKenzie	....	conductor
Daryl McKenzie	....	orchestrator
Julie Pearce	....	music editor (uncredited)

Other crew
Peter Lawless	....	location manager
Linda Ray	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Movieco Australia

Distributors

• Cannes Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Phaedra Cinema (1998) (USA)

Other Companies

• Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)  funding
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities

Runtime:

94 min | Poland:91 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Movieco Australia

Trivia:

Based loosely on the life of legendary eccentric Bea Miles, who recited Shakespeare for a dollar on the streets of Sydney and rode taxis for a sonnet.

Gorgeous Australian drama about a woman's lifelong struggles with mental illness and family relationships.

I don't agree with the other persons post, he/she is entitled to their opinion but i fell in love with this film. I adore Australian cinema and have always sort out the golden gems through the years since i was a teenager. This film came out at a time when i needed it! Lilian as the older woman portrayed struggles to cope with being out of hospital after a long period. Suffering from mental illness myself i identified with the feelings of isolation and depression portrayed. The flashbacks worked for me as i could connect with her as to why she may have ended up so scared and alone. I recommend this film if u want to see Toni Collettes earlier work and it is one of Ruth Cracknells final films and the haunting lines she utters still ring now! Not a masterpiece but a fine Australian production.