Director – Cate Shortland
Cast – Abbie Cornish, Sam Worthington, Lynette Curran
Released – 2004
I don’t believe Somersault to be a very likeable film, however it is still a great film. Allowing the viewer to feel normal whilst watching a group of messed up people attempt to interact.
The films protagonist is the painfully introverted Heidi (played by Abbie Cornish), a girl who’s age is never defined, beside the acknowledgement that she goes to school. Heidi appears trapped in the mental transition between childhood and adultescent whilst physically perusing an adult sexual relationship, however such pursuits only point out her level of naivety further. She is clearly very vulnerable, although she consistently places herself in situations that encourage others to take advantage of said vulnerability, suggesting that she thrives on physical contact and her vulnerability is her method to get it.
The film implies that Heidi may have a mental disorder, such as Aspergers syndrome which is discussed within the film.
Whilst Heidi is on the run, she meets Joe (Sam Worthington), who is just as confused about his identity as well as his sexuality. Sam becomes Heidi’s protector, however they never really confine to one another. The film is often brought back to reality by Irene (Lynette Curran), who is the only person Heidi becomes explicitly honest with.
The film appears to be marketed as a love story/unexpected romance, when in fact it couldn’t be more of the opposite, as Stephen Holden from the New York Times suggests “It is a film about the looks on people’s faces and the disparity between the surface and the roiling chaos beneath”. Whilst Somersault has received mixed reviews, the fact that it made a clean sweep at the 2004 AFI awards makes it a must see film for anyone interested in Australian Art house cinema.
Jennifer K Trigg 