Amy (1997/II)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Nadia Tass

Writer:

David Parker (writer)

Release Date:

27 August 1998 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

You've heard nothing until you hear her song.

Plot:

Amy is a story of a young girl who witnesses her dad's death on stage at a rock concert. She becomes mentally mute/deaf after this...

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Compassion | Death Of Husband | Australia | Welfare

Awards:

10 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Alana De Roma	...	Amy Enker
Rachel Griffiths	...	Tanya Rammus
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Robert Buchanan
Nick Barker	...	Will Enker
Kerry Armstrong	...	Sarah Trendle
Jeremy Trigatti	...	Zac Trendle
William Zappa	...	Bill Trendle
Torquil Neilson	...	Luke Lassiter
Sullivan Stapleton	...	Wayne Lassiter
Mary Ward	...	Mrs. Mullins
Susie Porter	...	Anny Buchanan
Frank Gallacher	...	Dr Urquhart
Malcolm Kennard	...	Brian Cosgrove
Jan Friedl	...	Susan Hammett
Jeremy Kewley	...	Maurice Reitman

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some domestic violence, disturbing images and brief language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Iceland:L (original rating) | Italy:T | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Cascade Films

Trivia:

The venue for the concert towards the end of the film where Amy is found is the Sydney Myer Music Bowl. It is located in gardens near the centre of Melbourne and is used for a wide range of functions, including concerts and Carols by Candlelight.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Amy's travels, when she is lost, take her through a wide range of Melbourne locations, and represent a long convoluted trip, which would most likely beyond the average 8-year-old child, requiring much walking and considerable use of public transport.

Quotes:

[Mr. Trendle tries to fondle Tanya, but she shoves him away]
Bill Trendle: Jesus, lady, you're worse than my wife!
Tanya Rammus: I'll take that as a compliment.

Absolutely incredible

I saw this movie at the Heartland Film Festival last year here in Indy, and I though it was probably one of the best movies I saw last year. Even if it wasn't, it was certainly the most original and different I've seen in quite a long time.

It is the story of Amy a young girl who has been mysteriously deaf-mute for several years, for no medical reason. She lives with her protective mother, played by Rachel Griffiths, who tries, with no avail, to understand her daughter's condition.

Most of the plot involves their move to small alley in a downtown Australian town, which is populated with all sorts of different, funny characters. The film goes along with just the right pacing---it doesn't rush or lag, just goes along, much like its characters, who aren't entirely sure of where their lives are going, but go on anyways.

This film blends tragedy, comedy, drama, and fantasy without every confining itself to one genre. It creates its own world, using nothing but a subtle script and incredible acting.

One more comment: I thought that the scene involving the little girl and the little guy, and his drumset had to be one of the cutest scenes I've seen in over a decade.