Amy (1997 film)

Amy
Directed by	Nadia Tass
Produced by	Nadia Tass; David Parker
Written by	David Parker
Starring	Alana De Roma; Rachel Griffiths; Ben Mendelsohn; Nick Barker
Music by	Philip Judd
Cinematography	David Parker
Edited by	Bill Murphy
Production; company	Cascade Films; Film Victoria
Distributed by	Roadshow Home Video; Village Roadshow; World Wide Motion Pictures Corp.
Release date	12 September 1997 (Athens); 27 August 1998
Running time	104 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English
Box office	A$599,724 (Australia)

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]

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

Alana De Roma as Amy Enker
Rachel Griffiths as Tanya Rammus
Ben Mendelsohn as Robert Buchanan
Nick Barker as Will Enker
Kerry Armstrong as Sarah Trendle
Jeremy Trigatti as Zac Trendle
William Zappa as Bill Trendle
Torquil Neilson as Luke Lassiter
Sullivan Stapleton as Wayne Lassiter

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

Variety: link
eFilmCritic: link
Haro-Online: link
Steve Baker's Film Review: link
Metacritic: link

References

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.
"Amy (2001)". tcm.com. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
"Amy (2001)". film.com. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
"AMY - ON LOCATION". urbancinefile.com.au. Urban Cinefile. August 1998. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
"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.
"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
"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.
"Amy (1998) Awards". toptenreviews.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
Nechak, Paula (14 December 2001). "Nebulous plot treatment mars dated Aussie film". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
"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.
"Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2010.

External links

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[NYT1-1] 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.

[RMIT-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

[AFC2-7] "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.

[TTR-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.

[AFC1-10] "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.