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:

cricket the sport | man wears a swimsuit | man wrapped in a towel | watching tv | swimming | 

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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

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

Referenced in Chicago Fire: Two Ts (2016)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Deserves to be better known

Since all the reviews I read on this film so far are from Australia, I couldn`t resist to comment on it, if just for showing that it made the other side of the world :-). I bought the DVD because I already am a fan of Jesse Spencer (though I never had the chance to see his "Neighbour"-appearances) - I like him in "Stranded". So I bought the DVD of "Swimming upstream" and was really impressed by his acting-skills. The story lacks a little tempo at times, but the characters played by Jesse Spencer and Judy Davis are really coming to life very well. And the way I dislike Geoffrey Rush`s character is proof of his good job either. Contrary to a previous review I read, I liked the use of the editing machine during the swimming sequences just fine. The only thing that struck me was the music during those sequences, that just was dramatic all right, but way to modern for the time that movie played in. With a little more tempo this might have been a top-league drama, but it still deserves to be better known and I will certainly recommend it to friends of drama-movies.

I hope for Jesse Spencer to find more roles that bring out his talent and make him even better known worldwide. It`s not often that good looks and talent go together (Kevin Zegers is another fine actor that deserves to be better known...).

I still wonder, why Tony`s father disliked his own son that much...I wish no kid would have to live through something like that. Ever!

Details

Official Sites:

MGM [United States]

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

27 February 2003 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Swimming Upstream

Filming Locations:

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$24,520, 6 February 2005

Gross USA:

$54,965

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$791,154

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:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1