I think this could have just become my favourite Australian film.  I was curious about it just because it seemed to get a lot of acclaim, yet still.. before renting it out, I didn’t really know anything about the background; only just what was on the DVD sleeve. From the first 10 minutes, I was captivated, and it drew me in, and its hard to find the right words to really convey why. Rhys Wakefield, Toni Collette, Erik Thomson, Luke Ford and Gemma Ward play an amazing ensemble. Though its Rhys & Gemma on the cover; the story and the heart of the film is Rhy’s character Thomas’ relationship with his autistic brother Charlie, played by Luke Ford. Constantly giggling, and gesturing to communicate in a loose sign language, the film doesn’t show Thomas as being embarassed, or mortified to be seen in public with his brother.

Its more that he’s frustrated with the people around them that give them weird looks, or assume that noise = violence. Including the nosy neighbour that sprays Charlie with a hose through the fence for simply humming, and playing in the back garden. Or the pre-pubescent idiots that introduce themselves to the new family on the street by asking if Charlie is a ‘spastic’.

And whilst Thomas always shows Charlie love, and support, and smiles at his mother making shapes out of his shampooed hair in the bath; he constantly wishes he was normal. He constantly wishes that its simply a phase, and that one day he will get the attention that his parents ravish upon Charlie. Jackie comes into the picture, and let’s just say Charlie is introduced in quite possibly the most unpredictable way in which Thomas wouldn’t know how to talk to Jackie the next day; but Jackie is drawn to both of them somehow. She sees some horrible things, but she sticks with them. There’s a shocking turning point which I will not spoil, but the emotions that had accumulated within me up to this point, made it all the more poignant and cathartic, bringing a gasp, and tears all at the same time.

The film is about acceptance, and growing up despite circumstances. Some circumstances never change, but family doesn’t. I had a giggle, I laughed, I was moved, and I cried a whole lot for different reasons, and it just had me transfixed. I think this will appeal to people for different reasons also, but it has some really important lessons for anyone who needs some perspective on how disabilities affect not just the disabled, but the families and friends that support them.

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