Swimming Upstream (2003)

The inspirational life story of Australian swimmer Tony Fingleton.

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writers:

Anthony Fingleton (autobiography), Diane Fingleton (autobiography),

Stars:

Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis, Jesse Spencer

4 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Geoffrey Rush	...	Harold Fingleton
Judy Davis	...	Dora Fingleton
Jesse Spencer	...	Tony Fingleton
Tim Draxl	...	John Fingleton
Deborah Kennedy	...	Billie
David Hoflin	...	Harold Fingleton Jr.
Craig Horner	...	Ronald Fingleton
Brittany Byrnes	...	Diane Fingleton
Mitchell Dellevergin	...	Young Tony
Thomas Davidson	...	Young John
Kain O'Keeffe	...	Young Harold Jr.
Robert Quinn	...	Young Ronald
Keeara Byrnes	...	Young Diane
Mark Hembrow	...	Tommy
Simon Burvill-Holmes	...	Brother Campbell

Storyline

The true story of Tony Fingleton, a young man from a troubled family who found the inner strength to become a champion. Always overshadowed in his father's eyes by his brothers, it is only when Tony displays an extraordinary swimming talent that he feels he has a shot at winning his father's heart.

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Plot Keywords:

swimming | training | bully | sissy | abuse | 

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Taglines:

The pride of a nation. The heart of a champion.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving alcoholism and domestic abuse

Details

Official Sites:

MGM [us]

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

27 February 2003 (Australia)

Also Known As:

A contracorriente

Filming Locations:

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$24,520 (USA) (4 February 2005)

Gross:

$47,171 (USA) (11 February 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Crusader Entertainment, Pacific Film & Television Commission, Baldwin Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the movie, Tony competes in the 100-meter backstroke, winning a silver medal at the Empire Games in 1962. In 1962, the Empire Games swimming events were measured in yards, and Tony won silver behind another Australian in the 220-yard event. When he is later told that "your event was today" in reference to the 1964 Olympics, it refers to the 200-meter backstroke - the 100 wasn't contested in Tokyo.

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Quotes

Tony Fingleton: [narrating] I was always a little afraid of my father. From my earliest memory there was nothing I could do to please him. I just... never connected to him. So I fell between the cracks.

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Connections

Featured in Swimming Upstream: The Making of a Champion (2005)

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Soundtracks

"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"
Music by Ernest Ball
Lyrics by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff

User Reviews

Not So Good Old days

I grew up in Sydney during the 1950's and although my childhood was good it wasn't the "good old days" people like to reminisce about.

This film captures the Australia of the 1950's perfectly.

An insular nation still coming to grips with who it was and where it was going.

As a child I saw men traumatised by the war or the depression; unable to express their feelings and as trapped in their roles as were the women.

Rush and Davies were superb as were the actors who played the children.

What a pity Tony had to escape to the USA. Has anything really changed?

A great little Australian Movie