ELLIE AND ABBIE (AND ELLIE's DEAD AUNT)
Australia, 2020, 80 minutes, Colour.
Sophie Hawkshaw, Zoe Terakes, Marta Düsseldorp, Rachel House, Julia Billington.
Directed by Monica Zanetti.
With such a title, this brief film is asking for attention. Obviously, a comic tone, and the suggestion of the supernatural with the dead aunt.
In fact, this is a coming-of-age, coming out comedy. It is the story of Ellie, captain of the school, in her final year, conscious of her sexual orientation, attracted to a fellow student, Abbie, wanting to invite her to the school dance but, self-conscious, unable to do so. She does contrive to get herself into detention, the next desk to Abbie but confuses the situation.
Ellie has got on well with her mother – until now. Suddenly disclosing her orientation, she is upset with her mother’s seemingly accepting green but her reservations. The mother is played by prominent Australian actress, Marta to sword or – who has some moments of pathos, moments of comedy, and a heartfelt speech to her daughter.
And then there is the dead aunt. She is Aunt Tara, Ellie’s mother’s sister, who explains she was killed in a car crash. She has arrived, spasmodically appearing, and unpredictable, to help Ellie through her emotional and coming out crisis. She has a lot of comic deadpan lines as well as a lot of advice and encouragement.
One of the difficulties for the impact of the film is that Sophie Hawkshsaw appears to be much older than the alleged 18. On the other hand, Zoe Terakes (who had appeared in the television series Wentworth in a transgender role) brings a range of emotion to her role, irritation, nonchalance, clashes with Ellie.
The crisis comes when Abbie presents a school project about the impact of a lesbian campaigner at a rally in 1989. It is Aunt Tara, and Ellie is shocked, insulting Abbie, stating that this was all lies.
The soothing presence in the film is Ellie’s mother’s close friend, the ever genial Rachel House (the kayaking instructor in Penguin Bloom) who was Tara’s partner in the old days (seen at rallies in flashbacks). Eventually, Ellie talks with her mother, finds out what really happened and why her mother has concealed the story, gets dressed up for the dance with the help of her mother and Patty, but has still not invited Abbie.
There has been some talk of identifying lesbian interest by mentioning the AFL, Australian Football League and a favourite player. Ellie has always thrown a football landing on her drive over the fence. This time she keeps it, writes a note, sends it as an invitation to the dance – and, happily, all turns out well.
While there have been a number of films from the United States and Europe dramatising teenagers and young adults, male, coming to terms with their orientation and coming out, there have been few films for teenagers and young women. This comedy will be welcomed by those involved LBGTQ campaigns.
