The revelation within this movie is first-time actress, young Lily Bell Tindley in the title role of Lou (short for Louise). She is a natural and her face captures the camera like few can. Mature for her age she reminded me of American actress Monica Potter, who also reminds me of Julia Roberts. My wife said Lily Bell reminded her of Emma Roberts, who of course is the niece of Julia Roberts. Anyway if she gets a chance to continue with an acting career she can become very successful.
Set in Australia, Lou is the oldest of three daughters, 11 and about to be 12, and her single mom is only 27. We don't get much of a back-story except that their dad left, they don't know him, and they struggle to pay the rent.
As it turns out John Hurt (approaching 70 during filming) as Doyle is the grandfather, in a care facility, because he has early stages of dementia. He needs a place to stay temporarily and he is "placed" in their home. (As an American I don't understand how this works in Australia, but never mind.) While the arrangement is far from ideal, Lou seems to start to become attached to Doyle, more than anything because he is a father (or grandfather) figure she never had.
Things get complicated when Doyle begins to call Lou "Annie", his deceased wife. In fact at one point Doyle regresses to his younger days and actually proposes to "Annie." Lou seems to take him seriously when he says "I love you" and she even fantasizes about them going away.
It is all handled very well, the delicate story of an older man fading from reality and a young girl about to grow into a young woman learning about real life.
Set in Australia, Lou is the oldest of three daughters, 11 and about to be 12, and her single mom is only 27. We don't get much of a back-story except that their dad left, they don't know him, and they struggle to pay the rent.
As it turns out John Hurt (approaching 70 during filming) as Doyle is the grandfather, in a care facility, because he has early stages of dementia. He needs a place to stay temporarily and he is "placed" in their home. (As an American I don't understand how this works in Australia, but never mind.) While the arrangement is far from ideal, Lou seems to start to become attached to Doyle, more than anything because he is a father (or grandfather) figure she never had.
Things get complicated when Doyle begins to call Lou "Annie", his deceased wife. In fact at one point Doyle regresses to his younger days and actually proposes to "Annie." Lou seems to take him seriously when he says "I love you" and she even fantasizes about them going away.
It is all handled very well, the delicate story of an older man fading from reality and a young girl about to grow into a young woman learning about real life.