Somersault explores regret, forgiveness
Cate Shortland offers an artistic look at a young girl's life
Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
Abbie Cornish stars as Heidi in the Australian coming-of-age film Somersault. The movie has won 13 Australian Film Institute Awards for its depiction of Heidi's life after she runs away from home.
Somersault, a movie by Australian writer and director Cate Shortland, stands out as a film because it forgets the recipe most screenplay writers use to produce a movie. The originality paid off as the movie won 13 Australian Film Institute Awards.
Shortland cuts straight to the chase in this story about sexual awakening, with one climactic sequence within the first 10 minutes of the movie.
The story begins with 16 year old Heidi (Abbie Cornish), kissing her mom's boyfriend, only to have her mom walk in on them a few moments later. She tries to explain her regretful mistake, but is shoved aside by her grief-stricken mom.
Heidi quickly runs away with nowhere to go, and thus begins a cycle of constant flirtation and one night stands with anyone who will give her attention. One man that leaves an impression is Joe (Sam Worthington), whom she meets at a lodge.
In the beginning, Heidi and Joe's relationship starts off as a casual fling. As the movie progresses, they begin to develop feelings for each other. However, Sam's detached personality eventually gets the best of him as soon as he gets too close.
In the end, Irene (Lynette Curran), a middle-aged woman who comes across Heidi, eventually convinces Heidi to contact her mom.
Irene's love for her son, who was locked away for murder, provides Heidi with the example that she can still find forgiveness from her mom, despite anything that has happened in the past. At the end of the journey, Heidi not only finds forgiveness, but herself as well.
The movie was mostly filmed in monochromatic tones of blue, green and red. It gives an artistic feel to the entire film. Each scene was shot with hand-held cameras, which allows the actors to move freely, without forcing them to walk a specific path or move in a particular manner.
Shortland also includes shots that are seemingly insignificant but striking: water spouting from a drinking fountain, different shades of blue and red within a nightclub and leaves swirling through the air.
Final verdict? The entire movie can be compared to a painting: very artistic, highly erotic and symbolic. For those uninterested in well-made, artistically shot films, keep looking. This one's not for you.
