While being yet another in a long line of films about broaching adulthood, Girl Asleep addresses the awkward transition using fantastical elements, which just might be the best way to capture how foreign this period of life really feels.
The film is adapted from a play staged by Adelaide’s Windmill Theatre, with many of the key players being more active in the theater than the film community. Director Rosemary Myers is Windmill Theatre’s artistic director and boasts no other film credits, as does costume/production designer Jonathan Oxlade. Screenwriter and co-star Matthew Whittet does have experience acting in films, but his association with the project was always primarily as a writer, having penned the original play.
That background probably helped keep the film economical (it cost an estimated $1.5 million AUD), and after a strong showing at the Berlin International Film Festival, it’s poised to be a modest hit worldwide.
And what sweeter reward is there for a film willing to take risks? Sure, the stylistic influences are splashed across the trailer, but how many films give you dance numbers and an adventure through a backyard fantasy world? The combination of bold choices applied to a simple and relatable story should give this film legs, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it gained a cult following in the years to come.
Girl Asleep is directed by Rosemary Myers and stars Bethany Whitmore, Harrison Feldman, and Matthew Whittet. It will be released in Australia on September 8th, 2016 and in the U.S. on September 30th, 2016. For international release dates, click here.
Do you think Girl Asleep can break out on an international scale? Let us know in the comments!
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