Amy (1997 film)

Amy is a 1997 Australian film written by David Parker and directed by Nadia Tass, starring Alana De Roma in the title role, Rachel Griffiths, Ben Mendelsohn, and Nick Barker.[1][2][3]

Amy
Directed byNadia Tass
Produced byNadia Tass
David Parker
Written byDavid Parker
StarringAlana De Roma
Rachel Griffiths
Ben Mendelsohn
Nick Barker
Music byPhilip Judd
CinematographyDavid Parker
Edited byBill Murphy
Production
company
Cascade Films
Film Victoria
Distributed byRoadshow Home Video
Village Roadshow
World Wide Motion Pictures Corp.
Release date
12 September 1997 (1997-09-12) (Athens)
27 August 1998 (1998-08-27)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Box officeA$599,724 (Australia)

Background

The story developed from a concept inspired by the Man of La Mancha and the screenplay was developed by Tass' husband David Parker. The project that took eleven years to complete due to financial problems and a difficult search for the perfect "Amy".[4][5][6]

Plot

Amy's (Alana De Roma) father, Will Enker (Nick Barker), was a popular rock musician accidentally electrocuted while performing on stage. The psychological trauma leaves Amy mute and deaf. At the age of eight she is brought by her mother, Tanya (Rachel Griffiths), to Melbourne to diagnose the reasons for her continued silence. Amy befriends her neighbor, Robert (Ben Mendelsohn), and while social workers try desperately to get her to speak and go to school, she makes the choice to communicate again and begins to sing along to Robert's rock songs after three years of silence. Her mother works out her own emotional issues with the help of a therapist.

Major cast
Partial additional cast
  • Mary Ward as Mrs. Mullins
  • Jeremy Kewley as Maurice Reitman
  • Charles 'Bud' Tingwell as Country Doctor
  • Grant Piro as PC Franklin
  • Bobby Bright as Busker
  • Sarah Carter as Carousel receptionist
  • Janet Andrewartha as Singing receptionist
  • David Mason as Paparazzi
  • Steve Brown as Leon
  • Kim Gyngell as Wax Stevens
  • Susie Porter as Anny Buchanan
  • Frank Gallacher as Dr. Urquhart
  • Malcolm Kennard as Brian Cosgrove
  • Jan Friedl as Susan Hammett
  • Osvaldo Maione as Franco Rammus
  • Dino Marnika as Mike Cialino
  • Marco Chiappi as Greg Barton
  • Robert Meldrum as Brad Duffy
  • Adriano Cortese as Manny Cortex
  • Victoria Eagger as Jeanette Chandler

Release

The film first screened at the Athens International Film Festival on 12 September 1997, and had its Australian premiere 27 August 1998. It was screened at multiple film festivals from 1998 through 2003, before its television debut in Italy on 14 October 2004.

Reception

When it was released, Amy received rave reviews and many awards and nominations.[7][8] However, the film also received criticism as it was sometimes felt to be dated and imprecise in its references to Amy's plight, however, in France and the U.S, the movie was a hit, apparently receiving standing ovations at some theatres.[5] The film received approval from Lawrence van Gelder of The New York Times when he offered that "A couple of good performances, linked to a crowd-pleasing but predictable story marred by some slapdash construction await audiences..." and "Warm of heart, modest in polish, 'Amy' provides satisfactions that must be balanced against its flaws."[1] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer was less forgiving when they opined that "although the film is a decidedly mixed bag, it's blessed by solid performances from a top-notch cast", that it "feels dated and imprecise", and is "not able to make up its mind whether it wants to be slapstick or a heart-wrenching drama."[9]

When the film won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1999 Cannes International Film Festival, it also won the Le Prix Cinecole, an award judged by teachers from across France, which award was presented by the French Minister for Education and Culture. It was announced that Amy would be included in the senior high school curriculum in France.[10]

Box office

Amy took $599,724 at the box office in Australia,[11] which is equivalent to $883,616 in 2009 dollars.

Awards and nominations
  • 1998, Asia-Pacific Film Festival[7][8]
    • Grand Jury Award for outstanding contribution to humanity, Nadia Tass
  • People's Choice Awards[7]
    • Favourite Australian Movie
  • 1998, Heartland Film Festival[7]
    • Crystal Heart Award, Nadia Tass & David Parker
  • 1998, Australian Film Institute[7]
    • AFI Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, David Parker
  • 1998, Brisbane International Film Festival[7]
    • Most Popular Film audience selection
  • 1998, Australian Cinematographers Society[7]
    • Gold (shared) for Feature Productions Section, David Parker
  • 1998, Australian Film Institute[7]
    • AFI Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Rachel Griffiths
  • 1999, Cannes International Film Festival[7][10]
    • Prix de la Jeunesse, Nadia Tass
    • Le Prix Cinecole, Nadia Tass
  • 1999, Creteil Festival de Femmes[7]
    • Prix de Jeunesse
    • Prix du Jury Graine de Cinephage
  • 1999, Giffoni Film Festival[7]
    • Bronze Gryphon for Best Actress, Alana De Roma[7]
    • Golden Gryphon, Nadia Tass
  • 1999, Oulu International Children's Film Festival nomination for Starboy Award, Nadia Tass
  • Laon International Film Festival For Young People[7]
    • Best Film
    • Prix du Jury International Jeune Public
  • 1999, Australian Cinematographers Society[7][8]
    • Award of Distinction for Feature Productions Cinema, David Parker
    • Nominated for Featured Productions Cinema
  • 1999, Young Artist Awards[7]
    • nomination for Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Actress Age Ten or Under, Alana De Roma
  • 2000, Carrousel international du film de Rimouski[7]
    • Audience Camério, Nadia Tass
    • Camerio Best Feature
    • Camerio Grand Public
    • Camerio Best Actress, Alana de Roma
    • Camerio Best Actor, Ben Mendelsohn
  • 2000, Paris Film Festival[7]
    • Public Prize, Nadia Tass

Reviews

See also

References
  1. Gelder, Lawrence (18 May 2001). "'Amy': On a Bumpy Road to Recovery". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  2. "Amy (2001)". tcm.com. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  3. "Amy (2001)". film.com. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  4. "AMY - ON LOCATION". urbancinefile.com.au. Urban Cinefile. August 1998. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  5. "Nadia Tass, Amy (1998)". bonza.rmit.edu.au. RMIT University Australian and New Zealand film history database. Archived from the original on 9 May 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  6. "Interview with Nadia Tass", Signis, 31 May 1996, 31 August 1998, 3-4 November 1998 Archived 4 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine accessed 21 November 2012
  7. "Awards won by Australian features (titles 'A–B') 1998–2000". afc.gov.au. Archived from the original on 20 August 2003. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  8. "Amy (1998) Awards". toptenreviews.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  9. Nechak, Paula (14 December 2001). "Nebulous plot treatment mars dated Aussie film". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  10. "Australian Films Win Three Cannes Film Festival Prizes". afc.gov.au. Australian Film Commission. 24 May 1999. Archived from the original on 18 August 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  11. "Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
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