OPAL DREAM
Australia/UK, 2005, 86 minutes, Colour,
Sapphire Boyce, Christian Byers, Vince Colosimo, Jacqueline Mc Kenzie, David Field, Robert Menzies, Nicholas Bell.
Directed by Peter Cattaneo.
Peter Cattaneo reached a career peak with the unexpected worldwide success of The Full Monty in 1997. His follow up film, the prison comedy, Lucky Break, was only moderately successful. Now he has gone to Australia for film the family film, Opal Dream, based on a story by Ben Rice, who also worked on the screenplay.
The unusual setting is the opal mining town in the west of New South Wales, Lightning Ridge, (but filmed in what is often referred to as a moonscape desert, Coober Pedy - referred to in the final credits as ‘Cooper Pedy’!). While these towns are generally genial, there is an underlying brutality (seen in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert). Here it is directed towards ‘Ratters’, those accused of going on to rival claims to search for opals. However, right triumphs here and the townspeople have to change their attitudes.
What brings this about in the first place is the imagination of Kylie Anne Williamson, played by Sapphire Boyce. Like many children, she has imaginary playmates. However, Pobby and Dignan are completely real to her – to the embarrassment of her brother, Ashmole (Christian Byers) and the concern of her parents (Vince Colosimo and Jacqueline McKenzie). When her father takes her brother to the dig, they forget about Pobby and Dignan and have to claim they lost them. She tearfully begs her father to go back and search, even on another claim. Dad is caught and branded a ratter, bashed by the men of the town and taken to court and prosecuted.
What Cattaneo has done very effectively is to make the film as he would do any drama, not gearing it particularly towards children or expectations of how children should react. This works well. Ashmole and Kelly Anne are more realistic and so is the treatment of the story. Children are on its wavelength and adults can appreciate it as well.
A group of Australian character actors, including David Field, Robert Menzies and Nicholas Bell, round out the cast of a satisfying family film.
1.A film for children and adults?
2.The treatment of the story as a film, not simply directed towards children? Its effect for children and for adults?
3.The Coober Pedy setting, the mines and the claims, the mounds and the desert, the town, isolated, modern, the house, the supermarket, the hall for the court, the cemetery?
4.The title, Ashmoll’s voice-over, the nature of dreams, hopes and imagination?
5.The credits and the beauty of the opal?
6.The Williamson family: the back-story, the mother looking at the photos, her love for Peter Sidebottom, his going to New York, Ashmoll’s comments about his being his father? Rex Sweeping his mother off her feet? Living in the city? The father as a dreamer, with rocks in his head according to Ashmoll? Moving to Coober Pedy, a year’s work, no luck? The claim, the explosion in the tunnel? The clashes with Sid, his viciousness? The mother, her friendship with Vera, working at the supermarket? The hard life, Ashmoll and his age, love for his father, admiration for him, sensible? Kelly- Anne and her frailty, living in her imagination, Pobby and Dignan? Her companions, talking to them, places at table?
7.The family coping? The interviews for the Miss Coober Pedy, the contrast with Vera’s daughter and her prepared speech? Kelly -Anne and her imaginary friends, on-stage? At home, Rex trying to cope, persuade her that they were not real? Ashmoll’s realistic reaction? Their tolerating the friends at the meal table, the set places? Rex taking Kelly- Anne to the mine, his coming back, saying that he had lost them? Her anxiety, persuading them to go back – going onto Sid’s claim and the consequences?
8.Kelly- Anne and her getting sicker, her persuading Ashmoll to go to search in the tunnel? His finding the opal? The doctor and his help, Kelly-Anne? to hospital? Asking Ashmoll to arrange the funeral? Ashmoll and his deal with Vera’s husband, giving the opal? Ashmoll working with his father, the explosion? His father being accused of a Ratter, the dead rat on Ashmoll’s bike, the kids laughing at him? His friendship with the lawyer and going to ask him to help?
9.Rex and his work, dreams? The mother and her coping? Helping Kelly- Anne? Sid and his charges, the bashing in the town? The mother and her losing her job at the supermarket?
10.The character of the doctor, his friendship, help for Kelly- Anne? The lawyer, his taking on the case, dressing up, performance in the court? Vera and her friendship, lollipops for Pobby and Dignan? Her husband and the funeral arrangements?
11.The court case, the lawyer, the prosecutor and his bias, interruptions? The judge and his being fair? Rex having to imitate his search, people laughing? Vera and the teacher and their testimony? The verdict, Ashmoll and his speech, the funeral?
12.The arrangements for the funeral, the coffins and the wreaths, no-one arriving, people turning up? The information on the news? The speech at the grave, the importance of the ritual? Kelly- Anne and her presence, getting better?
13.A portrait of family, the Australian ethos, the harsh aspects of life, the more genial aspects of life? A film for the family?
