Opal Dream (2006)

A young girl's relationship with her imaginary friends resonates throughout her town in the Australian Outback.

Director:

Peter Cattaneo

Writers:

Peter Cattaneo (screenplay), Phil Traill (screenplay)

Stars:

Sapphire Blossom, Christian Byers, Vince Colosimo

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sapphire Blossom	...	Kellyanne Williamson (as Sapphire Boyce)
Christian Byers	...	Ashmol Williamson
Vince Colosimo	...	Rex Williamson
Jacqueline McKenzie	...	Annie Williamson
Robert Morgan	...	Sid
Anna Linarello	...	Betsy
Denise Roberts	...	Vera Dunkley
Peter Callan	...	Dan Dunkley
Stephen Potter	...	Lyndon Dunkley
Sharni Honor	...	Sandra Dunkley
Lisa Flanagan	...	Ms Banamooka
Anthony Braun	...	Lyndon's Gang
Casey Frew	...	Lyndon's Gang
Martin Grava	...	Lyndon's Gang
Roberto Crisa	...	Jes

Storyline

A young Australian girl living in a small rural mining town prefers the company of her two imaginary friends, Pobby and Dingan, to real children. She ends up looking awkward during social gatherings and her only tangible friend is her older brother, Ashmol, who finds Pobby and Dingan annoying and often makes fun of them because he's embarrassed by his sister's behavior. Kelly-Anne's and Ashmol's father is an opal miner trying to earn a living, and their mother is busy trying to fit in as a member of the community. Both parents agree that it's time for Kelly-Ann to move on and leave her fantasy world behind - but when they force her to grow up too fast with a hasty decision, Pobby and Dingan are killed and Kelly-Ann falls into a grief-stricken illness. The only one who can set things right is Ashmol.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | town | girl | imaginary friend | illness | 

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Taglines:

From the director of The Full Monty comes a rare gem of an Australian family film.

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements, language and some violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie's source novella 'Pobby and Dingan' by Ben Rice won the Somerset Maughan Award in 2001.

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Quotes

Ashmol Williamson: When you believe in something, that's when it's real.
Ashmol Williamson: And that's what makes a person real too.
Ashmol Williamson: How they dream and how they share their dreams.
Ashmol Williamson: When they're with you or even after they're gone.
Ashmol Williamson: Because a dream is forever.
Ashmol Williamson: Like my mum or dad or my sister, we're all dreaming together and that's what's real.
Ashmol Williamson: That's what's real forever.

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Crazy Credits

Drawings of children's imaginary friends are featured during the end credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Opal Dream: Behind the Scenes (2007)

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Soundtracks

Spirit in the sky
Written and performed by Norman Greenbaum

User Reviews

Really good family movie

Why do I love this movie so much? I don't really know...I guess from a critics perspective it's not perfect, but for me it's one of those films I fall back on when I really couldn't be bothered with anything else and I need something to cheer up my day. It also manages to capture the rural side of Australia so well. You really feel the warm summer nights in Australia whilst watching this. Young lead Christian Byers was such a likeable kid as well. Where have all these smaller Aussie gems disappeared to? It seems no ones making them here anymore.

Details

Official Sites:

BBC Films [UK] Renaissance Films

Country:

Australia UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pobby & Dingan

Filming Locations:

Outback, South Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD11,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,716, 26 November 2006

Gross USA:

$14,443

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$144,964

Company Credits

Production Co:

Academy Features, BBC Films, Sherman Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1