Undertow is a 2018 Australian psychological thriller film written and directed by Miranda Nation. The film premiered in August 2018 at the Melbourne International Film Festival, and in June 2019 at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.[2][3] It was released in Australian cinemas in February 2020.[4]
| Undertow | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Miranda Nation |
| Written by | Miranda Nation |
| Produced by | Lyn Norfor |
| Starring | Olivia DeJonge Josh Helman Laura Gordon Rob Collins |
| Cinematography | Bonnie Elliott |
| Edited by | Julie-Anne De Ruvo Nick Meyers |
| Music by | Lisa Gerrard James Orr Raul Sanchez |
Release date |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
Plot
editClaire, who is grieving the loss of her baby, suspects her husband may be cheating.
Cast
edit- Olivia DeJonge as Angie
- Josh Helman as Brett
- Laura Gordon as Claire
- Rob Collins as Dan
Production
editUndertow is Nation's first feature film. It was shot in Geelong in 2017.[5] The production had a high proportion of female crew members.[6]
Awards
edit- 10th AACTA Awards
- AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role - Laura Gordon - Nominated[7]
- AACTA Award for Best Editing - Julie-Anne De Ruvo and Nick Meyers - Nominated[7]
Reception
editUndertow has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[8] Luke Buckmaster of The Guardian gave it four stars and called it “an intensely gripping female-led Australian drama”.[9] Sarah Ward of Screen Daily said “Making a moody, confident feature debut, actor turned writer/director Miranda Nation takes the drama of mourning and impending motherhood, and spins it into psychological thriller territory with an added dose of topicality.”[10] Vicky Roach of the Daily Telegraph gave it 3 stars, calling it "An impressive showcase for some extraordinary Australian talent."[11] Writing in the Canberra Times, Jane Freebury gave it 3 stars, concluding "Undertow is in many ways an impressive achievement, and it augurs well for director Nation's next project."[6] David Stratton gave it 3 stars in The Australian. He states "The plotting is convoluted and the motivations not always clear, but the film gets by on the strength of some solid performances and the attractive photography by Bonnie Elliott."[12] The Sun Herald's Sandra Hall gave it 3 1/2 stars, finishing her review "It's an intelligent film, but it's relentless."[13]
References
edit- ^ Keast, Jacky (5 March 2020), "Miranda Nation explores female relationships in 'Undertow'", IF
- ^ "MIFF Archive:". MIFF 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Undertow | #edfilmfest 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "National Cinema Release for Alumna Miranda Nation's Debut Feature". Australian Film Television and Radio School. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Hayward, Tess (14 March 2020), "Strong female lead", Geelong Today
- ^ a b Freebury, Jane (6 March 2020), "Undertow is an atmospheric Australian psychodrama about football culture and obsession", The Canberra Times
- ^ a b Gilbertson, Matt (31 October 2020), "South Aussie made shows in the spotlight at AACTA awards", Sunday Mail
- ^ "Undertow (2018) | Where to watch streaming and online in Australia | Flicks". Flicks.com.au. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Buckmaster, Luke (9 August 2018). "Undertow review – intensely gripping female-led Australian drama". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Ward2018-08-10T09:38:00+01:00, Sarah. "'Undertow': Melbourne Review". Screen. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Roach, Vicky (8 March 2020), "Character shines in gripping showcase of Aussie talent", The Daily Telegraph
- ^ Stratton, David (7 March 2020), "Performances anchor tangled plot", The Australian
- ^ Hall, Sandra (26 February 2020), "Gloomy pall hovers over smart Australian thriller Undertow", The Sydney Morning Herald