Dance Me to My Song (1998)

Director:

Rolf de Heer

Writers:

Heather Rose (written by)
Frederick Stahl (written by)

Release Date:

22 October 1998 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A love triangle? Depends on you point of view really...

Plot:

A woman trapped in a twisted body from her bouts with the debilitating cerebral palsy communicates with the world via her computer with a voice box...

Plot Keywords:

Caretaker | Computer | Cerebral Palsy | Voice Box | South Australia

Awards:

2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

John Brumpton	...	Eddie
Danny Cowles	...	Joe
Catherine Fitzgerald	...	Dogface
Susie Fraser	...	Social Worker
Carmel Johnson	...	Temporary Carer
Joey Kennedy	...	Madelaine
Phil MacPherson	...	Trev
Rena Owen	...	Rix
Heather Rose	...	Julia

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Spain:18

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Vertigo Productions Pty. Ltd.

Trivia:

The title comes from a poem written by scriptwriter Frederick Stahl. He was a friend of Heather Rose and the poem appeared in an early draft of the script. It reads: "Whatever fate may thrust at me. I'll never be the same. I've had less fear of times to be. Since first I heard your name. I need to feel secure from harm. I will not keep you long. Please hold me tight within your arm. And dance me to my song."

Movie Connections:

Featured in Heather Rose Goes to Cannes (1998)

Soundtrack:

Kizungu

Emotional Cripple versus Physical Cripple

It appears that previous reviewers have failed to pick up upon a central theme of this unique film. Why didn't Julia just get rid of Madeline, they say? ... cardboard characters and doesn't make any sense, they say ... must be because good housekeepers are hard to come by, they say.

Of course this is a crude simplification, and what they have missed is that Julia, despite her crippling physical disability, was able to empathise with Madeline's hopelessness and despair and through a sense of unreciprocated friendship and sense of duty, refused to cut the relationship short. This is evidenced in two key scenes: Firstly, in the initial abandonment scene, there is a lingering shot of the emergency button as Julia contemplates pressing it. Later, as a post date rape follow-up, Madeline cuddles Julia and looks to her for support in bed, where a careful eye should read the compassion in Julia's face. To me this exemplifies the most compelling aspect of the film, namely, Madeline, despite her good looks and seductive sexuality, was the emotional cripple juxtaposed with the warmth and love of life displayed by Julia.

This film has given me a new perspective ...