Somersault
Following a reckless encounter with her mother’s boyfriend, teenage Heidi is forced to flee home and restart her life, finding refuge at a motel in the icy ski town of Jindabyne. There, she lands a job at a petrol station, befriends her warm co-worker Bianca, and meets Joe, a young man grappling with his own emotional baggage. As Heidi and Joe pursue a shaky relationship and search for normalcy against a bleak winter backdrop, they must confront their vices, feelings of isolation, and need for love and belonging.
Cate Shortland’s stunning feature debut is a “frank and visceral film that at the same time exudes an unexpected innocence” (Los Angeles Times). Featuring early performances from Abbie Cornish and Sam Worthington, Somersault sheds light on the complexity of growing up and the quiet ache of loneliness.
Somersault has been restored in 4K by Piccolo Films from the original 35mm master negative and final mix master audio components. Restoration by Ray Argall in consultation with Anthony Anderson, Robert Humphreys, Sam Patty and Cate Shortland.
Cast
- Abbie Cornish
- Sam Worthington
- Lynette Curran
- "Shortland paints a collage of regret: evocative snapshots of what might be; gritty footage of what is. Her cast is bursting with promise."
- "Director Cate Shortland has created a truthful, textured tale, exploring the subtlety and sensuality in all her scenes -- and never taking them exactly where expected."
- "A frank and visceral film that at the same time exudes an unexpected innocence."
- "[A] brilliantly realistic performance by Abbie Cornish as Heidi."
- "Cornish's raw, nuanced performance and Shortland's sympathetic but unsentimental portrayal of Heidi's fumbling steps toward maturity are underscored by Sydney-based band Decoder Ring's catchy, angst-ridden score."
- "Cornish is a marvel..."
- "[I]t's impressive -- and so is Cornish."
- "Heartfelt, painful, exhilarating and, above all, truthful."
- "Cornish's is the most goddamn, gosh-wow debut I've seen in years."
- "This beautifully understated feature (2004) revolves around sex, but it’s neither erotic nor puritanical; its young characters are governed by their urges, but the experience itself seems as neutral and mysterious as sleep."
Awards & Recognition
Winner - 13 Awards inc.Best Film, Direction, Actress, Actor
Australian Film Institute
Breakthrough Actress, Director
Miami Film Festival
Golden Camera
Cannes Film Festival
Grand Prix
Tokyo Int'l. Film Festival
Karlovy Vary Int'l. Film Festival
Toronto Int'l. Film Festival
SXSW