IMDb > Via Satellite (1998)

Via Satellite (1998) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
5.7/10   97 votes
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Director:
Anthony McCarten
Writers:
Anthony McCarten (play)
Greg McGee (writer)
Release Date:
15 October 1998 (New Zealand) more
Genre:
Comedy more
Plot:
As a family gather to watch one of their own swimming in the Olympics, minutes of fame become a hilarious and painful 24 hours when they uncover the secrets of a lifetime. | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
2 wins more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Mackenzie Phillips' 'Courage' Praised By Sister Chynna On 'Oprah'
 (From MTV Music News. 25 September 2009, 2:28 AM, PDT)
Video: Miley Cyrus On Jay Leno
 (From Celebuzz. 17 September 2009, 2:00 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
A stylish budget film reminiscent of Secrets & Lies more (5 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Danielle Cormack ... Chrissy / Carol

Karl Urban ... Paul
Jack Chan ... Takeaway Bar Owner
John McBeth ... Olympic Commentator
Rima Te Wiata ... Jen
Timothy Balme ... Ken (as Tim Balme)
Donna Akersten ... Joyce
Petra Peters ... Midwife
Jodie Dorday ... Lyn
Fiona Samuel ... Infomercial Voice
Shane Bartle ... Infomercial Voice
Brian Sergent ... Brian
Colin Addison ... Old MacPherson
Bob Wiki ... Haka Exponent
Vinny Epiha ... Barman
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
Norway:90 min
Country:
New Zealand
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Certification:
Australia:M

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful.
A stylish budget film reminiscent of Secrets & Lies, 19 October 1998
Author: Susan Thrasher from New Zealand

Like a cross between Secrets & Lies and the Australian comedy The Castle, this film puts an "ordinary" (but dysfunctional) suburban family under pressure and under scrutiny, and then lets us sit back and watch what happens. It's a stylishly shot budget film with some excellent moments, and a few real laugh-out-loud scenes.

True, the film's a bit slow in the middle, and there are some small lapses in continuity, but the beginning and ending are good, and the actors all perform well throughout. Danielle Cormack does a particularly fine job as Chrissy/Carol, and Tim Balme is wonderfully quirky as the frustrated and frustrating Ken. This is writer/director Anthony McCarten's first feature film, but no doubt we'll see more of his work.

Incidentally, while walking out of the theatre, I chatted with another viewer who said, "When my daughter was competing in the Olympics, and the tv crew came to film my family, it was nothing like this. It was really exciting. I'm sad this film didn't capture that kind of excitement and good feeling that we all felt watching her compete." Her comment may truly reflect surburban life, but that's not what Via Satellite is about, and McCarten's story explores more interesting issues.

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