Australian Rules (film)
Encyclopedia
Australian Rules, is a 2002 Australian
film directed by Paul Goldman. The film was adapted from the novel Deadly, Unna?
by Phillip Gwynne. It stars Nathan Phillips
, Luke Carroll
, Tom Budge, Brian Torry and Lisa Flanagan
. The film was launched at the Melbourne International Film Festival
.
, in particular dealing with the issue of racial relationships through the central characters, their involvement in local Australian rules football
, and aboriginal players.
In an isolated South Australian fishing town, the only thing that connects two communities the whites and the blacks is football. Gary Black (Nathan Phillips) and Dumby Red (Luke Carroll) are an exception; teenage best friends from different sides of the tracks. Dumby is the star of the football team and likely to become the next big Aboriginal star in the big leagues. Gary is the bookish son of a hard-drinking and brutal white fisherman, Bob Black (Simon Westaway). He is attracted to Dumby's beautiful sister, Clarence (Lisa Flanagan). When their team wins the premiership, Dumby's elation is short-lived. He is passed over for the best-on-ground prize, setting off a chain of events that ends in tragedy.
Cinema of Australia
Cinema of Australia, more commonly referred to as the Australian film industry, refers to the system of production, distribution, and exhibition of films in Australia. Film production commenced in Australia in 1906 with the production of The Story of the Kelly Gang, the earliest feature film made...
film directed by Paul Goldman. The film was adapted from the novel Deadly, Unna?
Deadly, Unna?
Deadly, Unna? is a work of teenage fiction and is Phillip Gwynne's first novel. The book deals with the inter-racial friendship between two teenage boys, Gary "Blacky" Black and "Dumby" Red....
by Phillip Gwynne. It stars Nathan Phillips
Nathan Phillips (actor)
Nathan Scott Phillips is an Australian actor who is currently based in Los Angeles. He is perhaps best known for his role as backpacker Ben Mitchell in Wolf Creek and for his American film debut, Snakes on a Plane, opposite Samuel L...
, Luke Carroll
Luke Carroll
-Television and film:Carroll started out in guest roles in some Australian shows, including The Flying Doctors, Lift Off, The Man from Snowy River, Ocean Girl and Water Rats....
, Tom Budge, Brian Torry and Lisa Flanagan
Lisa Flanagan
Lisa Flanagan is an Australian actress who is best known for her roles in the movies Australian Rules and Look Both Ways and the television series Double Trouble...
. The film was launched at the Melbourne International Film Festival
Melbourne International Film Festival
The Melbourne International Film Festival is an acclaimed annual film festival held over three weeks in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1951, making it one of the oldest in the World....
.
Plot
The film is about a young man experiencing the hardships of growing up in rural South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, in particular dealing with the issue of racial relationships through the central characters, their involvement in local Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
, and aboriginal players.
In an isolated South Australian fishing town, the only thing that connects two communities the whites and the blacks is football. Gary Black (Nathan Phillips) and Dumby Red (Luke Carroll) are an exception; teenage best friends from different sides of the tracks. Dumby is the star of the football team and likely to become the next big Aboriginal star in the big leagues. Gary is the bookish son of a hard-drinking and brutal white fisherman, Bob Black (Simon Westaway). He is attracted to Dumby's beautiful sister, Clarence (Lisa Flanagan). When their team wins the premiership, Dumby's elation is short-lived. He is passed over for the best-on-ground prize, setting off a chain of events that ends in tragedy.
Cast
- Nathan PhillipsNathan Phillips (actor)Nathan Scott Phillips is an Australian actor who is currently based in Los Angeles. He is perhaps best known for his role as backpacker Ben Mitchell in Wolf Creek and for his American film debut, Snakes on a Plane, opposite Samuel L...
as Gary "Blacky" Black - Simon WestawaySimon WestawaySimon Westaway is an Australian actor who has appeared in many television series, films and theatre productions. He is most remembered as portraying Domenic "Mick" Gatto in the crime series Underbelly. He currently hosts Channel Seven's Surf Patrol. He has three children: Jackson, Bella and Ruben...
as Bob Black - Celia IrelandCelia IrelandCelia Ireland is an Australian actress.-Biography:Ireland is best known for her work as Regina Butcher on All Saints, an Australian hospital drama...
as Liz Black - Nick Readman as Team-man
- Catherine Hughes as Sharon
- Hannah-Claire Koblar as Jenny
- Harrison GilbertsonHarrison Gilbertson-Career:Gilbertson began acting at the age of six when he played the character of Sorrow in a local production of Madama Butterfly. He made his screen debut in 2002 playing the role of Greggy in Australian Rules....
as Greggy - Kelton Pell as Tommy Red
- Luke CarrollLuke Carroll-Television and film:Carroll started out in guest roles in some Australian shows, including The Flying Doctors, Lift Off, The Man from Snowy River, Ocean Girl and Water Rats....
as Dumby Red - Franchesca Cubillo as Dumby's Mother
- Lisa FlanaganLisa FlanaganLisa Flanagan is an Australian actress who is best known for her roles in the movies Australian Rules and Look Both Ways and the television series Double Trouble...
as Clarence - Tom BudgeTom BudgeTom Budge is an Australian actor. Budge was born in Melbourne, Victoria. Early in his acting career, Budge appeared in a number of Australian television shows, includingNeighbours, Round the Twist and Shock Jock etc...
as Pickles - Paul Eadon as Thumper
- James Alberts as Carol Cockatoo
- Eileen Darley as Shirl
- Kevin Harrington as Mr. Robertson "Arks"
- Reece Horner as Mark Arks
- Martin Vaughan as Darcy
- Tony Briggs as Pretty
- Brian Torry as Glenn Bright
- Max Fairchild as Big Mac
- Adam Morgan as Field Umpire
- Gabby Gwynne as Scoreboard boy
Awards
- AFI AwardAustralian Film InstituteThe Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
2002:- Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Source
- ASSG Award 2002:
- Best Achievement in Sound for a Feature Film
- FCCA AwardFilm Critics Circle of AustraliaThe Film Critics Circle of Australia is a group of cinema critics that judge Australian films.-External links:**...
2002:- Best Supporting Actor - Female: Celia IrelandCelia IrelandCelia Ireland is an Australian actress.-Biography:Ireland is best known for her work as Regina Butcher on All Saints, an Australian hospital drama...
- Best Supporting Actor - Male: Simon WestawaySimon WestawaySimon Westaway is an Australian actor who has appeared in many television series, films and theatre productions. He is most remembered as portraying Domenic "Mick" Gatto in the crime series Underbelly. He currently hosts Channel Seven's Surf Patrol. He has three children: Jackson, Bella and Ruben...
- Best Supporting Actor - Female: Celia Ireland
- Verona Love Screens Film Festival 2003:
- Audience Award: Paul Goldman
- Youth Jury Award - Special Mention: Paul Goldman
- Aria Music AwardsARIA Music AwardsThe Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
2003:- Best Original Soundtrack Album: Mick HarveyMick HarveyMichael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
- Best Original Soundtrack Album: Mick Harvey
Nominations
- AFI AwardAustralian Film InstituteThe Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
2002:- Best Actor in Supporting Role: Luke CarrollLuke Carroll-Television and film:Carroll started out in guest roles in some Australian shows, including The Flying Doctors, Lift Off, The Man from Snowy River, Ocean Girl and Water Rats....
- Best Actress in Supporting Role: Celia IrelandCelia IrelandCelia Ireland is an Australian actress.-Biography:Ireland is best known for her work as Regina Butcher on All Saints, an Australian hospital drama...
- Best Film
- Best Original Music Score
- Best Sound
- Best Actor in Supporting Role: Luke Carroll
- FCCA AwardFilm Critics Circle of AustraliaThe Film Critics Circle of Australia is a group of cinema critics that judge Australian films.-External links:**...
2002:- Best Actor - Male: Nathan PhillipsNathan PhillipsNathan Phillips is the name of:*Nathan Phillips , Canadian politician*Nathan Phillips Square, the plaza in front of Toronto, Ontario's City Hall named in honour of the above*Nathan Phillips , Australian actor...
- Best Cinematography
- Best Film
- Best Screenplay - Adapted
- Best Supporting Actor - Male: Luke CarrollLuke Carroll-Television and film:Carroll started out in guest roles in some Australian shows, including The Flying Doctors, Lift Off, The Man from Snowy River, Ocean Girl and Water Rats....
- Best Supporting Actor - Female: Lisa FlanaganLisa FlanaganLisa Flanagan is an Australian actress who is best known for her roles in the movies Australian Rules and Look Both Ways and the television series Double Trouble...
- Best Actor - Male: Nathan Phillips
- Humanitas PrizeHumanitas PrizeThe Humanitas Prize is an award for film and television writing intended to promote human dignity, meaning, and freedom. It began in 1974 with Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser — also the founder of Paulist Productions — but is generally not seen as specifically directed toward religious...
2002:- Sundance Film Category
- IF Awards 2002:
- Best Actor: Nathan PhillipsNathan PhillipsNathan Phillips is the name of:*Nathan Phillips , Canadian politician*Nathan Phillips Square, the plaza in front of Toronto, Ontario's City Hall named in honour of the above*Nathan Phillips , Australian actor...
- Best Feature Film
- Best Production Design
- Best Script
- Best Actor: Nathan Phillips
- Verona Love Screens Film Festival 2003:
- Best Film: Paul Goldman