Somersault

An Australian teenager takes her new-found sexuality out for a test drive to Jindabyne in this award-winning film. As you might expect, her results are less than stellar. Our heroine is clearly drifting between childhood and adulthood but her focus is always tactile. Watch how she caresses her scrapbook or her lover's fingertips.Winner of 13 awards at the Australian Film Institute in 2004, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Film, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor and Actress, I found this DVD (with captions!) at Amazon.com.These four won those acting awards: * Sam Worthington ("The Debt" and "Man on a Ledge") is Joe, a young man who works for his father on his cattle station and also does the occasional mechanic's job. He is a bit of a rounder, but next to our flighty heroine, he is a rock! * Abbie Cornish ("Limitless" and "Bright Star") portrays Heidi, trying out her wings, making ill-advised choices for bad reasons and not yet settled enough to learn from them. Joe says "She's like my mom's perfume: Mom would spray a mist in the air and then walk through it. I can still feel Heidi on my skin..." * Lynette Curran (lots of TV) is Irene, the generous proprietor of the Jindabyne motel where our heroine lands. This hard-working gal has her own set of problems but tries to help when she can. * Erik Thomson ("The Boys are Back") has a small but pivotal role as Richard, the gay neighbor who is moving away. His character has an intelligence and a stillness that I found very appealing.This PG-13 film has some fisticuffs, lots of nudity and alcohol (remember, it's Australian), but no vehicular mayhem or blowie uppie stuff.I was impressed by this film.

Somersault is a very special film. This is what I called an art film because it is not a big Hollywood movie or a Cinderella Story. It is a very sensitive story about self discovering of two people through their experiences and their choices. Abbie Cornish and Sam Worthington give such strong and amazing performances in their respective roles, they can be moving, disturbing and at the same time makes you think about what it means to grow as a person. Heidi (played by Abbie) is a young disturbed teenage girl of 16 years old that has a self destructive path, the way I see it, she is trying so bad to find someone that will love and care for her that she keeps making bad choices and so she keeps collecting broken hearts and despair. She falls in love with Joe (played by Sam Worthington) but he seems in a point in his life where he doesn't quite know who he is and what he wants in life. That's where comes the most interesting point in this movie it is their relationnship. Through each other and their experiences together they will learn valuable lessons about themselves. It is a very sensitive and poignant story. If you are looking for something different about what it means to be human and trying to find yourself, this is an excellent story with very good talented actors!

Young sensual confused run-a-way in her late teens. Very slow film..., Australian... but visually lovely location and somehow the pace of the film is what draws you in. You could say this film didn't have a point really but it did have a story that could have been very true easily. It's a saga of her journey, her vulnerable youth, openness, trust, sensual/sexual nature and desire to be loved and to feel safe; also her hurt, guilt and confusion..., and the kindness of strangers; of first love and ultimately a mother's love.Note to conservatives and parents: nudity, sex and drunkenness in this; fair warming.Abbie Cornish is mesmerizing and not just for the guys; her acting is so natural and she has you right with her in her performance. Not sure which years this was made but she's quite young here; portrayed and carried off the role of maybe 16, 17 at most.

A wild and graphic movie. Good acting and script.

I saw this little gem at the Miami Film Festival a couple of years ago and couldn't get it out of my mind. It's about a young woman whose budding sexuality gets her in trouble (she sleeps with her mother's boyfriend) so she runs away from home to a resort commuinty high in the mountains somewhere in Austraila. There she meets a young man she develops a fancy for, but he is dealing with issues of his own. This was a magnificent film that deserved far more theatrical atttention than it got. Film Festival crowds loved it! I talked to programmers of film festivals who raved about it. But, for some reason theatrical distributors gave it only nominal attention. Now's your chance to see it. You'll be amazed at how much of a Nicole Kidman look alike the young female lead is - a dead ringer! Enjoy!

Abbie Cornish delivers an Academy Award worthy performance in this under-appreciated film. I had never heard of her before and was blown away by the depth of this young girls ability. I can't say the film has a happy ending, but it does have a hopeful ending. It is painful to watch sometimes as Heidi (Abbie Cornish) makes terrible adolescent mistakes. She is such a likable character that I found myself cringing as she did things that would scar her forever. Nonetheless, she survives and gains a little wisdom along the way. Sam Worthington also delivers a strong supporting performance. As far as I am concerned this is a must see. I might add that viewers should follow their viewing of Somersault with a look at Candy. In Candy, Abbie Cornish stars with the late Heath Ledger and once again delivers an amazing performance (as does Heath Ledger).

She runs away and finds out how hard life is for a teenager on her own. Her transgressions usually get interrupted which is a recurring theme. Why does this happen? Haven't figured that out yet. It seems to be a charmed life as bad as it is throughout the movie she is still young and has a lot to learn. A slow moving movie that is easy to watch. It doesn't drag it's just peaceful while being somewhat chaotic at the same time. Like God's given her training wheels.

A very meaningful story, first film by Abbie Cornish.

Australian screenwriter and director Cate Shortland's feature film debut which she wrote, premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 57th Cannes International Film Festival in 2004, was shot on locations in Australia and is an Australian production which was produced by producer Anthony Anderson. It tells the story about a daughter named Heidi who lives with her mother.Distinctly and acutely directed by Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland, this rhythmic fictional tale which is narrated from multiple viewpoints though mostly from the main character`s point of view, draws an intimate and incisive portrayal of a sixteen-year-old who goes on a risky trip far from home and her relationship with a man named Joe. While notable for its naturalistic milieu depictions, fine cinematography by cinematographer Robert Humphreys and brilliant use of sound, this character-driven story contains a great score by Decoder Ring which emphasizes the protagonist`s inner states and the poignant atmosphere.This somewhat enigmatic, romantic and profound indie which is like a poetic poem that reflects over the search for identity with subtle perspectives, is impelled and reinforced by its cogent narrative structure, versatile and emotionally intricate acting performance by Australian actress Abbie Cornish and the substantial acting performance by Australian actor Sam Worthington. A memorable and tender study of character.

Small and beautiful aussie film ; young girl runs away from home to snowy lake jindabyne where she begins to use her sexuality to survive much to the disgust of some of the locals . This film works because of the brilliance of Abbie Cornish ; she is funny and sexy and very easy to connect with . If this had been say a french movie then I know I would have found the actress too sacharine or say an eastern european then the story would have been too bleak . Why didnt I award 5 stars , I found the ending rather poor and would have prefered something tougher . Not just a womans film , my partner found it great too .

good film but someones cheating a bit case shows scenes not in the film sad really this perhaps could be shown to 16-18 year olds letting them know they are not alone when trying to decide which sexual persuasion they feel is theirs.wish the director had thought to do a follow up showing Heidi and Joe 10 years later.Sam Worthington and Abbie Cornish were just right in the parts.the blurb on the front of the case says it all "Love can turn you upside down" it can also hang you out to dry.the case says uncut but theres at least 20minutes missing sad!would have liked to see it with all scenes back in.

This is a curiosity, a tale of Asutralia far from the usual image, a town in winter near the mountains - everything is cold and grey - and what happens to a young woman, played by a very young Abbie Cornish who has since gone on to much greater things (eg Bright Star). Her ability still makes itself felt in a fairly bleak story that is relieved by an ultimate humanity.