Somersault

The remarkable debut feature by writer-director Cate Shortland (TV’s The Secret Life Of Us), broke all records when it won in 13 categories at the 2004 Australian Film Institute Awards, including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Original Music Score. Heidi, a pretty sixteen-year-old girl living with her young single mother falls foul of her own burgeoning sexuality, and is forced to leave home. She flees to the snowy ski resort of Lake Jindabyne to a former boyfriend whom she is upset to find is no longer interested. Left to fend for herself, she uses her mind, her spirit and ultimately her body to befriend a cross-section of locals in the small, freezing town: kindly motel owner, Irene, service station worker, Bianca and the despondent Joe, whose intense relationship with Heidi sends each of their ideas about sexuality, class, family and future spiralling out of control. Intelligent, moving, complex and intensely erotic, Somersault features a breathtaking and courageous central performance by Abbie Cornish as Heidi, guided by director Cate Shortland’s elegantly assured direction, providing a masterful reflection on relationships, intimacy, friendship and forgiveness.