The Caterpillar Wish

Scott Murray, Reviewer
August 21, 2008

There is something enchanting about this unassuming film.

Type: Movie
Channel: 9
Date: Friday August 22
Time: 9:30 PM

The Caterpillar Wish is the archetypical Australian movie: a sensitive first film, from a talented writer-director (Sandra Sciberras), laced with what seem to be strong autobiographical elements. It is lovingly made on a small budget, with a committed and conscientious cast, radiantly photographed (by Greig Fraser) and set in the postcard-perfect harbour town of Robe in South Australia. It also has the classic Australian faults: many scenes are way too short, making one obvious narrative point at best; it moves uneasily between its various story threads, happiest when just following the central character (Victoria Thaine's teenage Emily); the music insists on telling the audience how to think and feel; the narrative follows the conventions of television soap, making it feel more like a TV pilot than a true cinema experience; and it fails to get right the minutia of action (Emily makes two mugs of coffee in less than two seconds). But there is something enchanting about this unassuming film. You will ignore its flaws and be swept along by Thaine's delicate and touching performance, recognising the truth in Emily's scenes with her mother (a fine Susie Porter).

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