The Black Balloon (2008)
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- PG-13
- 1h 37min
- Drama, Romance
- 06 Mar 2008 (Australia)
- Movie
All Thomas wants is a normal adolescence but his autistic brother, Charlie, thwarts his every opportunity. Will Thomas, with the help of his girlfriend, Jackie, accept his brother?
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 18 wins & 24 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Rhys Wakefield | ... |
Thomas Mollison
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| Luke Ford | ... |
Charlie Mollison
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| Toni Collette | ... |
Maggie Mollison
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| Erik Thomson | ... |
Simon Mollison
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| Gemma Ward | ... |
Jackie Masters
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| Sarah Woods | ... |
Woman Next Door
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| Sam Fraser | ... |
Kid Next Door
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Makirum Fahey-Leigh | ... |
Mate of Kid Next Door
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Oliver Brookes | ... |
Other Mate of Kid Next Door
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Jan Ringrose | ... |
Neighbour
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Bradley Orford | ... |
Neighbour
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| Zelie Bullen | ... |
Mother in Van
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Anthony Phelan | ... |
Mr. Masters
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Deborah Piper | ... |
Janet - Social Worker
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| Henry Nixon | ... |
Trevor - Social Worker
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Jim Maxwell | ... |
Cricket Commentator (voice)
(as James Maxwell)
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| Rebecca Massey | ... |
Miss Babb
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| Ryan Clark | ... |
Dean
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| Aaron Glenane | ... |
Bucko
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Lisa Kowalski | ... |
Sally
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Lloyd Allison-Young | ... |
James
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| Nathin Art Butler | ... |
Chris
(as Nathin Butler)
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Elle-May Patterson | ... |
Kylie
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Carla Gee | ... |
Caroline
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Toby Molineaux | ... |
Student Who Gets Hit
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| Yure Covich | ... |
Maths Teacher
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Paul Doyle | ... |
P.E. Teacher
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Andrew James | ... |
Teacher at Fight
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Firass Dirani | ... |
Russell
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Ngoc Phan | ... |
Teacher's Aide
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Sally Evans | ... |
Girl on Bus
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| Kate Box | ... |
Elizabeth
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| Zoe Carides | ... |
Russell's Mum
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George Badawi | ... |
Russell's Dad
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Jeffery Armstrong | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Robert Armstrong | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Rosemary Armstrong | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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| Holly Austin | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Alexander Berlage | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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George Bountros | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Matthew Cahill | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Cameron Fyfe | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Jordan Hagivassilis | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Tyne Miller | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Lachlan Monaghan | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Jared Ohlstein | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Mathew Parsons | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Amy Jo Farrow Potts | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Andrew Ryan | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Ellie Singer | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Edward Smith | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
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Kieran Smith | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Gemma Thomas | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Jackson T. Trout | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Tom Trout | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat!'
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Shai de Vletter-Sont | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
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Sonny Vrebac | ... |
Student on Bus and in Musical 'Afloat'
(as Sinisa Vrebac)
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Arahni Sont | ... |
Teacher
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| Claire McCarthy | ... |
Teacher
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Judy Singer | ... |
Teacher
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Terry Flanagan | ... |
Bus Driver
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Millie Spencer-Brown | ... |
Checkout Girl
(as Millie Spencer Brown)
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| Inge Sildnik | ... |
Supermarket Customer
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Birthe Nohrden | ... |
Supermarket Customer
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Jennifer Cutler | ... |
Maternity Ward Patient
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Michael Allison | ... |
Maternity Ward Husband
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| Martin Lynes | ... |
Emergency Doctor
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| Eliza Logan | ... |
Emergency Nurse
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Sofia Fedirchuk | ... |
Baby Sophie
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Indigo Cumming | ... |
Baby Sophie
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James Duffy | ... |
Baby Sophie
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Andy Meritakis | ... |
Daniel (uncredited)
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Louise Sykes | ... |
Maternity Nurse (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Elissa Down | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| Elissa Down | ... | (written by) & |
| Jimmy The Exploder | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Sally Ayre-Smith | ... | co-producer / line producer |
| Anita Belgiorno-Nettis | ... | executive producer |
| Sally Chesher | ... | executive producer |
| Toni Collette | ... | executive producer |
| Elissa Down | ... | co-producer |
| Mark Gooder | ... | executive producer |
| Jimmy The Exploder | ... | co-producer (as Jimmy the Exploder) / co-producer |
| Tristram Miall | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Mark Turnbull | ... | co-producer |
Music by
| Michael Yezerski | ... | (music by) |
Cinematography by
| Denson Baker | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Veronika Jenet | ... | (edited by) |
Editorial Department
| Trish Cahill | ... | digital intermediate colorist |
| Ben Crowley | ... | on-line assistant |
| Cameron D'Arcy | ... | digital intermediate assistant |
| Warren Eagles | ... | colorist: dailies |
| Heather Galvin | ... | digital intermediate smoke operator |
| Katherine Heads | ... | post-production coordinator |
| Sally Johnson | ... | colorist: dailies |
| Maria Kaltenthaler | ... | assistant editor |
| Justin McDonald | ... | dailies advisor |
| Simon Morris | ... | digital intermediate assistant |
| Rollo Pinsent | ... | editing attachment |
| Anne Robinson | ... | digital intermediate longform manager |
| Justin Ngy Tran | ... | digital intermediate supervisor |
| Kento Watanabe | ... | on-line assistant |
| Leroy Wolf | ... | color timer (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Nikki Barrett | ... | (casting) |
Production Design by
| Nicholas McCallum | ... | (as Nick McCallum) |
Art Direction by
| Matthew Putland | ||
Set Decoration by
| Jodie Whetter | ||
Costume Design by
| Claire Granville | ||
Makeup Department
| Kate Birch | ... | hair stylist / makeup artist |
| Lara Jade Birch | ... | hair stylist (as Lara Jade) / makeup artist (as Lara Jade) |
| Bob McCarron | ... | special makeup effects artist |
| Wizzy Molineaux | ... | makeup designer |
| Jennifer Stanfield | ... | additional hair stylist (as Jen Stanfield) / additional makeup artist (as Jwn Stanfield) |
| Lynn Wheeler | ... | additional hair stylist / additional makeup artist |
Production Management
| Colleen Clarke | ... | post-production manager: PPost & Deliver |
| Sue MacKay | ... | production manager |
| James Sdrinis | ... | post-production manager: PPost & Deliver |
| Peter Vertzagias | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Cameron Wintour | ... | unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Brendan Barry | ... | additional assistant director |
| Sophie Bennett | ... | directing attachment |
| Jane Griffin | ... | second assistant director |
| Nick Heygate | ... | third assistant director |
| Hamish Roxburgh | ... | additional assistant director |
| Eddie Thorne | ... | additional assistant director |
| Mark Turnbull | ... | first assistant director |
| Joshua Watkins | ... | additional assistant director (as Josh Watkins) |
Art Department
| Chris Harris | ... | art department assistant |
| Renee Hoare | ... | props buyer / set dresser |
| Nick Volpe | ... | art department attachment |
| Dillon Yeats | ... | stand-by props |
| Ingrid Weir | ... | art department graphics (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Yulia Akerholt | ... | dialogue editor |
| Steve Burgess | ... | sound effects editor |
| Phil Jeffers | ... | foley recordist |
| Leah Katz | ... | assistant dialogue editor |
| Kieran McVeigh | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Ben Osmo | ... | sound recordist |
| Andrew Parsons | ... | second boom attachment |
| Paul Pirola | ... | re-recording mixer / sound designer |
| Blair Slater | ... | foley artist |
| Mario Vaccaro | ... | foley artist |
| Mark van Kool | ... | boom operator |
| David White | ... | adr recordist |
| Andy Wright | ... | adr recordist |
| Michael McMenomy | ... | adr engineer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Karl McManus | ... | special effects: Image FX |
| Dave Roberts | ... | special effects: Image FX |
Visual Effects by
| Lindsay Adams | ... | compositing lead: Animal Logic |
| Morgane Furio | ... | visual effects supervisor: Animal Logic |
| Matt Greig | ... | compositor: Animal Logic |
| Jason Hawkins | ... | compositor: Animal Logic |
| Edwina Hayes | ... | senior visual effects producer: Animal Logic |
| Jayne Herrmann | ... | visual effects producer: Animal Logic |
| Julien Leveugle | ... | compositor: Animal Logic |
| Marco Nero | ... | digital matte painter: Animal Logic |
| Murray Smallwood | ... | compositor: Animal Logic |
| Jamie Wood | ... | compositor: Animal Logic |
Stunts
| Lawrence Woodward | ... | action coordinator |
| Terry Flanagan | ... | stunt driver: bus driver (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Mark Alston | ... | additional video split operator |
| Denson Baker | ... | camera operator: "a" camera |
| Simon Cardwell | ... | additional still photographer |
| Simon Chapman | ... | camera operator: "b" camera |
| Matt Clyde | ... | additional electrician |
| Garfield Darlington | ... | additional electrician |
| Ben Dugard | ... | additional electrician |
| Jeff Eastman | ... | additional grip |
| Drew English | ... | additional clapper loader |
| Geoff Full | ... | additional grip |
| Peter Giuliani | ... | third electrician |
| Craig Jackson | ... | additional grip |
| Benjamin Jasper | ... | clapper loader: "b" camera (as Ben Jasper) |
| Pim Kulk | ... | clapper loader |
| James Lengel | ... | additional electrician |
| Gerard Maher | ... | additional clapper loader |
| Christopher Lee Miles | ... | video split operator (as Chris Miles) |
| Morag Mirankar | ... | additional clapper loader |
| Jules O'Loughlin | ... | additional camera operator |
| Alex Orellana | ... | focus puller (as Alby Orellana) |
| Scott Parsons | ... | best boy grip |
| Justin Plummer | ... | best boy |
| Jaan Ranniko | ... | additional video split operator |
| Mark Rogers | ... | Gallery and still photographer / still photographer |
| Kate Rose | ... | additional focus puller |
| Stephen Szafranek | ... | additional grip |
| Robert Tench | ... | additional clapper loader |
| Matt Toll | ... | additional first assistant camera |
| Viliami Topui | ... | grip assistant |
| Jay Torta | ... | additional focus puller |
| Jason Trew | ... | key grip |
| Jason Weekes | ... | additional grip |
| Simon Williams | ... | gaffer |
Casting Department
| Danny Long | ... | casting associate |
| Jayne Montague | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Ashleigh Moore | ... | extras casting assistant (as Ashleigh Brooks) |
| Dex Tallo | ... | extras casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Sarah Brest | ... | additional stand-by costumer |
| Kirsten Doak | ... | costume buyer |
| Marilyn Down | ... | seamstress |
| Kate Granville | ... | assistant stand-by costumer |
| Jill Guice | ... | key stand-by costumer (as Jilly Guice) |
| Sam Perkins | ... | additional stand-by costumer |
| Carol Tee | ... | costume supervisor |
| Warwick Young | ... | costume advisor: military |
Location Management
| Annelies Norland | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Joe Accaria | ... | musician: featured soloist |
| Daniel Baker | ... | composer assistant |
| Jeremy Barnett | ... | musician: featured soloist |
| Laura Bishop | ... | music preparation: Jigsaw Music |
| Darryl Carthew | ... | musician: featured soloist |
| Paul Jarman | ... | musician: featured soloist |
| Brenda Lee Jones | ... | musician: featured soloist |
| Peter Kennard | ... | musician: featured soloist |
| Stephen Lalor | ... | musician: featured soloist |
| Genevieve Lang | ... | musician: featured soloist |
| James K. Lee | ... | music preparation: Jigsaw Music |
| Christopher Nelius | ... | composer: additional music (as Chris Nelius) / score producer (as Chris Nelius) |
| Norman Parkhill | ... | music supervisor |
| Ben Pritchard | ... | assistant music engineer |
| Phil Punch | ... | music mixer: Electric Avenue / music recordist: Electric Avenue |
| Veronique Serret | ... | musician: featured soloist / orchestra contractor |
| Ganesh Singaram | ... | assistant music engineer |
| James Tawadros | ... | musician: featured soloist |
| Joseph Tawadros | ... | musician: featured soloist |
| Jessica Wells | ... | music preparation: Jigsaw Music |
| Michael Yezerski | ... | score producer |
| Jonathon Zwartz | ... | musician: featured soloist (as Jonathan Zwartz) |
| Claire McCarthy | ... | musician (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Melissa Hayward | ... | continuity |
| Kelly Lefever | ... | script editor |
| Duncan Thompson | ... | script editor |
Transportation Department
| Mike Horvath | ... | driver: cast |
| Matt Worth | ... | vehicle consultant |
Additional Crew
| Tony Anderson | ... | additional unit assistant |
| Tobias Andersson | ... | production runner |
| Jeremy Atcliffe | ... | production accountant |
| Craig Blair | ... | caterer: Kollage Katering |
| Charmaine Bunning | ... | adr loop group |
| Frank Cacchione | ... | liaison: Defense |
| Brian Carpenter | ... | unit assistant |
| Anthony Cogin | ... | adr loop group (as Tony Cogin) |
| Al Colman | ... | additional unit assistant |
| Nicla Comparin | ... | choreography intern |
| Renee Costello | ... | adr loop group |
| Annie Crossan | ... | assistant to choreographer |
| Emma Dickinson | ... | adr loop group |
| Gregory Down | ... | military advisor |
| Patrick Elkington | ... | additional unit assistant (as Pat Elkington) |
| Neil Faulkner | ... | additional unit assistant |
| Robert Festinger | ... | advisor: Aurora |
| Kerry Fetzer | ... | caterer: Kollage Katering |
| Carl Fifield | ... | stand-in: male |
| Jay Finocchiaro | ... | extra casting assistant |
| Brendan Fitzgerald | ... | additional unit assistant |
| Tony Gibbs | ... | insurance: HW Wood Australia |
| Therese Hanna | ... | baby nurse |
| Mathew Harrington | ... | production runner |
| Robbie Henley | ... | additional unit assistant |
| Mike Horvath | ... | production runner (as Michael Horvath) |
| Arif Jafari | ... | adr loop group |
| Linda Jefferys | ... | unit nurse |
| David Knight | ... | additional unit assistant |
| Catherine Lavelle | ... | publicist: CLPR |
| David Lawrance | ... | laboratory liaison: Atlab Australia |
| Damian Macey | ... | additional unit assistant |
| Tatjana Marjanovic | ... | adr loop group (as Tatjana Alexis) |
| Ben Marks | ... | adr loop group |
| Patrick Maxwell | ... | epk |
| Claire McCarthy | ... | choreographer |
| David McKenna | ... | advisor: Aurora |
| Annette McKenzie | ... | double: Maggie breast feeding |
| Will Mitchell | ... | unit assistant |
| Masoumeh Mokhtar | ... | Caterer |
| Michaal Monk | ... | stand-in: Maggie |
| Ashleigh Moore | ... | stand-in: Jackie (as Ashleigh Brooks) |
| Stephanie Moxham | ... | accounts assistant |
| Warren Pearson | ... | dailies assistant |
| Joan Peters | ... | legal services |
| Laurence Pettinari | ... | safety officer |
| Jessica Phillips | ... | stand-in: Jackie |
| Gwyneth Price | ... | adr loop group |
| Lynne Ramsay | ... | advisor: Aurora |
| Suzanne Richards | ... | additional unit nurse |
| Chantelle Robertson | ... | clearance intern |
| Fiona Rossendell | ... | liaison: Defense Housing Authority |
| Yuri Shukost | ... | liaison: Defense (as Yuri Shukhost) |
| Sasha Skalrud | ... | adr loop group |
| Corrie Soeterboek | ... | completion guarantor: First Australian Completion Bond Company |
| Sotiri Sotiropoulos | ... | additional safety officer |
| Alison Tilson | ... | advisor: Aurora |
| Kieran Turner | ... | adr loop group |
| Anika Valenti | ... | production secretary |
| Kelly Vincent | ... | production coordinator |
| Anke Vuletic | ... | assistant to director / sponsorship coordinator |
| Tim Waygood | ... | representative: Kodak |
| Michelle Weiss | ... | choreography intern |
| Carl Blacklidge | ... | boat wrangler (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Veronica Nadine Gleeson | ... | special thanks (as Veronica Gleeson) |
| Scott Meek | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
- Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)
- Black Balloon Productions
- Icon Entertainment International
- The Australian Film Commission
- The New South Wales Film and Television Office
Distributors
- Hoyts Distribution (2007) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
- Icon Entertainment International (2007) (World-wide) (theatrical)
- Icon Film Distribution (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2007) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
- NeoClassics Films (2008) (United States) (theatrical)
- Odeon (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
- RCV Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- BBC One (2017) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- NITV (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- Pan Vision Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
- RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
Special Effects
- Image FX (special effects)
- Ego Trip Productions
- Animal Logic (visual effects)
Other Companies
- Atlab Australia (digital film recording)
- Best FX Adelaide (ADR)
- Big Toys (grip equipment)
- Buzzy's Recording (post-production sound services)
- CLPR (publicity)
- Cutting Edge (post-production) (DI)
- Cutting Edge (post-production) (dailies)
- Disney Studios Australia (production offices)
- Electric Avenue Studios (music recording and mixing)
- First Australian Completion Bond Company (FACB) (completion guarantor)
- HW Wood (insurance)
- Jigsaw Music (music preparation)
- Kingdom of Ludd (opening title design)
- Kodak Australasia (film stock)
- Kollage Katering (catering)
- Multicom Communications (motorolas)
- PPost & Deliver (post-production management)
- Panavision Australia (camera and lenses)
- Simon Williams Lights (generator)
- Soundfirm (sound mixing studio)
- Spectrum Films (picture editing facility)
- The Stunt Agency (stunts)
- Who Dares (set security)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Thomas is turning 16. His Dad is in the army and they've just moved to a town in New South Wales; his mum is pregnant; his older brother, Charlie, who's autistic, has his own adolescent sexual issues. Thomas finds Charlie an embarrassment in public, so when Thomas is attracted to Jackie, a girl in his swim class, Charlie presents any number of obstacles when she drops by their house, when the three of them go for a walk, and during a family birthday dinner. Can Thomas find a way to enter the world of teen romance and still be his brother's keeper, or is Charlie's disability going to prove more than Thomas can handle?
Written by |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Normal is relative. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | AUD5,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend Australia | $94,347, 20 Apr 2008 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | At the river, Jackie says "Kieren Perkins, watch out!". Kieren Perkins is an Australian swimmer who won Gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and a Silver medal at the 2000 Olympics, swimming in the 1500 metre event. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Episode #6.1 (2009). See more » |
| Soundtracks | For He's A Jolly Good Fellow See more » |
| Crazy Credits | During the opening credits which appear over a montage of the Mollison family moving into a new home, the names of things, objects, and people in the frame are superimposed over them--such as "sky" and "lace curtains" and "brother"--in the same typeface and type size as the credits. The responsible staff person from the company that designed the opening credits was inspired by what he learned about autism because of involvement in this film, namely, what he came to understand of how people with autism see things, and by the way the film's character with autism, Charlie, uses sign language to identify things. See more » |
| Quotes |
Maggie Mollison:
Your brother will never be able to do the things you can Thomas, He will live with us for the rest of his life. See more » |